Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles has commended the shipping industry's Joint Industrial Council (JIC) for its role in maintaining stability on the Port of Kingston.

During a special visit to the meeting of the JIC last Wednesday, Charles said, "it is good to see management and unions meeting, not just to discuss disputes but also about issues that concern the country".

The JIC is a forum which was established in 1952 between the management of the shipping industry and the unions representing portworkers. It meets monthly to address concerns of both sides and has been credited with earning the port of Kingston the reputation of being a stable location.

Redundancy a reality

Charles noted that due to the current global economic crisis the possibility of posts being made redundant is a reality and, as such, management and workers have to see themselves as partners.

The minister said the workers and their unions should be prepared to make concessions to save jobs and that management should operate in a spirit of openness with the workers.

Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) president, Michael Bernard, told the minister that the SAJ is responding to the current downturn in activity at global ports by intensifying training of its employees to bring them to the highest standards to prepare them and the industry for the return of growth in trade. In addition, the association has formed a partnership with HEART/NCTVET to provide certification for port workers.

In August of this year, the association wrote to the labour minister, suggesting that the ministry should use its influence to explore with the government of Panama the possibility of Jamaicans being recruited to fill the shortage of skilled labour in construction and other industries such as the port and shipping sectors. The minister reported to the JIC that he wanted to enlist the support of members of the JIC as agents of the Government to assist in pursuing such potential opportunities.

A meeting has been called today among the ministers, officials of the ministry, SAJ executives and members of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, the Trade Union Congress and the United Portworkers and Seamen Union to discuss the approach. So far, apart from a visit by the SAJ and the unions to Panama in August to benchmark operations in that country with port operations in Jamaica, no contact has been made with the Panamanian officials on this proposal and no concrete job opportunities have been identified.

Relevant expertise

The labour minister credits the SAJ and unions representing workers on the port of Kingston with the relevant expertise and contacts that will enable the ministry to proceed successfully with the proposal.

President-elect of the SAJ, Roger Hinds, welcomed the invitation, noting that the shipping industry has an enviable history of contributing to the growth of Jamaica's economy.

Outgoing president of the SAJ Michael Bernard encouraged the labour minister to establish other councils such as the JIC to help with industrial relations in other sectors of the local economy.

Michael Bernard (left), president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), presents a cheque to Desmond McKenzie, mayor of Kingston, to assist with the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation's charity events. Looking on is Roger Hinds, president-elect of the SAJ.

Schedule

Kingston: December 23-29

AGENT/VESSEL ARRIVAL

CARIB STAR

CFS Paranga 25/12

CFS Palencia 26/12

CFS Pacora 26/12

Zim Kingston 26/12

Ines 26/12

Zim Livorno 27/12

Zim Xiamen 28/12

Zim Shanghai 29/12

Zim Mediterranean 29/12

Sagitarrius 29/12

CFS Paradero 29/12

Katrin S 29/12

CMA CGM JAMAICA

CC Maya 23/12

ANL Esprit 23/12

Pacora 23/12

Stadt Flensburg 24/12

CC Samba 24/12

Vitality 24/12

Palencia 24/12

Seaboard Sun 25/12

Katrin S 26/12

Panavera 27/12

Paranga 27/12

CC Esperanza 28/12

CC King Fish 28/12

Zim Xiamen 28/12

CC Respect 29/12

CC Fortuna 29/12

GATEWAY SHIPPING

Vitality 24/12

Paranga 25/12

Palencia 26/12

Pacora 26/12

CMA CGM Esperanza 28/12

CMA CGM Fortuna 29/12

Paradero 29/12

JA FREIGHT & SHIPPING

MV Maas Trader 23/12

MV Summer Flower 23/12

MV Seaboard Sun 26/12

MV Freedom Ace 26/12

MV Zim Livorno 27/12

MV Xiamen 28/12

MV Zim Shanghai 28/12

MV Seaboard Voyager 29/12

MV Amstel Trader 29/12

MV Helene 29/12

MV CMA CGM Respect 29/12

MV Zim Mediterranean 29/12

LANNAMAN AND MORRIS

Uni Corona 23/12

Freedom Ace 25/12

MARITIME &

TRANSPORT SERVICES

Vega Azurit 29/12

SEABOARD JAMAICA

Maas Trader 23/12

Seaboard Sun 26/12

Seaboard Voyager 29/12

Amstel Trader 29/12

SEAFREIGHT JA LTD

Vega Azurit 23/12

Stadt Berlin 26/12

Hafentor 26/12

Stadt Rendsburg 27/12