UCASE to update security guards on lawsuit challenging new contracts

                                                                                                                

The Union of Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE) will meet Sunday with the island's security guards to update them on the lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court challenging new contracts offered to them by security companies. 

 

UCASE President Vincent Morrison insists that the contracts are illegal.

 

"What we have had so far is that those guards who refuse to sign, they have been laid off and there are guards who haven't worked since April of this year, so we had gotten our attorneys to file a motion...in the Supreme Court and Mr. Leonard Green, attorney-at-law, he will be addressing the guards to give them an update as to what has been done so far in terms of dealing with the issue," he told Radio Jamaica News.      

 

Security companies started issuing the new contracts after the Supreme Court ruled last September that security guards are not independent contractors, but instead employees entitled to all attendant benefits.

 

However, a number of the guards have rejected the new contracts, arguing that they will lose benefits accrued over the years.

 

Mr. Morrison is urging Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. to assist in resolving the impasse.

 

He said UCASE has already met with the minister but has requested a follow-up meeting to discuss the issue.  

 

"We have written to him asking for a meeting, because we believe that this issue with the guards and the security company can be resolved.... The fact of the matter is that we haven't had the opportunity to meet with the security companies in spite of the fact that we have written to the ministry asking for meetings."   

 

The meeting to update the guards on the lawsuit is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the offices of UCASE.