The management of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company says it has implemented contingency measures to minimize the impact of the strike by drivers on commuters.
In a statement, the JUTC confirmed that drivers from the Rockfort, Portmore and Spanish Town depots have withdrawn their service effective 4 o'clock Tuesday morning, resulting in disruption on several routes.
The drivers are represented by the University and Allied Workers Union.
The JUTC says the strike is in response to an incident involving two employees who are represented by Union of Clerical Administrative and Supervisory Employees.
The company did not give details on the incident but Radio Jamaica News was informed that on the weekend, a female driver was allegedly physically assaulted by a Franchise Protection Inspector after an anomaly was discovered with a ticket.
It's reported that the husband of the inspector, who is also employed in the same department, intervened in support of his spouse.
The JUTC says preliminary steps were taken to address the matter, including the temporary reassignment of the employees while maintaining their benefits.
The company says the measures were communicated to all relevant parties with assurances that appropriate action would be taken upon conclusion of an investigation.
It's understood that the incident was captured on a Close Circuit Television camera.
But, the drivers and their union are now demanding that the inspectors be immediately terminated.
The JUTC says it does not support the demand without a full investigation and, accordingly, it deems the strike by the drivers unnecessary.
The drivers are being urged to return to work and allow the process to unfold in a fair and just manner.
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