PICA immigration officers take industrial action

 

More than 50 immigration officers at the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency have taken industrial action.

 

The protest started with the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift.

 

Radio Jamaica News has been informed that staff from the shipping, deportation, border management and extension of stay units in Kingston have called in sick.

 

The employees have reportedly been restive due to an "unjust" interdiction process and a special allowance.

 

General Secretary of the National Workers Union Granville Valentine said the workers feel disrespected and that they are being "punished unfairly without getting an opportunity to follow due process". 

 

In some instances, he said, workers turn up to work, are called into a meeting and given an interdiction letter, which means their pay is immediately cut in half. 

 

Mr. Valentine said some workers have been on interdiction for two years and are struggling to meet their daily needs.   

 

He noted that the NWU is prepared to meet with the management of PICA, however, National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang or Permanent Secretary Courtney Williams should also be present.

 

"We have been lobbying, we have been talking, we have been trying, we have been doing everything to resolve these disputes. We don’t believe that enough has been done on the part of management and we also believe that there are shakers and movers who have serious influence who need to get in this because they are aware of the dispute, they are aware of the problems that exist," he declared. 

 

PICA has said it will issue a statement on the matter later today.

 

Radio Jamaica News has received confirmation from the Sangster International Airport that its operations are not affected by the industrial action.