Trade unionist forecasts more industrial unrests in 2025

By Clinton McGregor 

 

President of the Union of Clerical Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE), Vincent Morrison, is forecasting multiple industrial unrests in the public and private sectors in 2025.

 

In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, Mr. Morrison warned that Jamaica's trade unions will not accept the 4 to 6 per cent inflation rate guideline being touted by the Bank of Jamaica in the next round of negotiations.

 

He said workers are growing frustrated with the high cost of living and the low wages being offered by their employers.

 

"Especially those companies who have had the workers for the past 14-15 years on fixed term contracts, no pension, no overtime payment, etc. And the offers coming from a lot of companies, right across Jamaica, is 4-6 per cent increase when cost of living, inflation, is very much more than 4 per cent," Mr. Morrison argued.  

 

"The Bank of Jamaica seems to be pushing very hard to institute a wage guideline [of] 4-6 per cent. We are saying that that is not fair. We are saying that companies that make super profit, that can pay more than 4-6 per cent, should pay," he pointed out, as he commended companies like Seprod who he said have paid workers a 10 per cent increase in year one and 9 per cent in year two. 

 

Mr. Morrison disclosed that the island's trade unions will be making a major push to sign up workers in the tourism sector in 2025.

 

Over the last several weeks, tourism workers have been staging protests over low salaries, poor working conditions and fixed term contracts which deny them benefits.

 

Many have expressed a desire to join a union.

 

Mr. Morrison said the unions have been having discussions with the workers. 

 

"We have had contact from a number of the companies, workers in a number of hotels, and we will be launching massive organising drive come January, February in the industry next year. Again, we are hoping that we will get the cooperation of management and also the Ministry of Labour in an effort to have these claims settled promptly on behalf of the hotel and tourism workers."

 

The trade unionist warned that the tourism, security guard industry, bauxite and alumina as well as the manufacturing sector will likely be the hotspots of unrest in the upcoming year.