Another batch of workers at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is to be sent home as the cash-strapped entity moves to cut its financial losses.
150 drivers and conductors are to be laid off on Friday.
They will remain off the job for at least three months.
JUTC Director Dennis Chung says the Board issued instructions for the cuts to take place in order to reduce the number of excess staff at the company.
He says during the three months the company will decide which of the affected employees should be taken back.
Mr. Chung explained that some of the persons to be laid off have been cited for high absenteeism and accidents involving the company's buses.
"Those 155 persons had total days absent because of no-show days and sick days of 4, 919 man hours over a ten month period which equates to 33 days per person or about one day per week so we are looking at driving that inefficiency out the system because that accounts for 15 per cent the total manhours for those 155 people," said Mr. Chung.
As was reported by RJR News last week, more than 300 JUTC workers are to be sent home before the end of the month.
And trade unions representing JUTC workers say they cannot guarantee normality at the company as they prepare for a crucial meeting on Thursday morning with the management.
The meeting will be held at the Ministry of Labour.
Workers are reportedly restive over the ongoing job cuts and the manner in which their displaced colleagues have been treated by the JUTC.
First Vice-President of the University and Allied Workers Union, Clifton Grant, is warning that there could be trouble at the company if Thursday's meeting fails to arrive at a resolution.
150 drivers and conductors are to be laid off on Friday.
They will remain off the job for at least three months.
JUTC Director Dennis Chung says the Board issued instructions for the cuts to take place in order to reduce the number of excess staff at the company.
He says during the three months the company will decide which of the affected employees should be taken back.
Mr. Chung explained that some of the persons to be laid off have been cited for high absenteeism and accidents involving the company's buses.
"Those 155 persons had total days absent because of no-show days and sick days of 4, 919 man hours over a ten month period which equates to 33 days per person or about one day per week so we are looking at driving that inefficiency out the system because that accounts for 15 per cent the total manhours for those 155 people," said Mr. Chung.
As was reported by RJR News last week, more than 300 JUTC workers are to be sent home before the end of the month.
And trade unions representing JUTC workers say they cannot guarantee normality at the company as they prepare for a crucial meeting on Thursday morning with the management.
The meeting will be held at the Ministry of Labour.
Workers are reportedly restive over the ongoing job cuts and the manner in which their displaced colleagues have been treated by the JUTC.
First Vice-President of the University and Allied Workers Union, Clifton Grant, is warning that there could be trouble at the company if Thursday's meeting fails to arrive at a resolution.
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