Workers expect more job cuts at Noranda

It has emerged that more than a hundred employees at Noranda Jamaica Bauxite in St. Ann could lose their jobs because of financial difficulties facing US-based Sherwin Alumina, one of the purchasers of  bauxite from Noranda.
   
There is the likelihood that hundreds of contractors will also be affected.
   
That's the word from the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP) ahead of another meeting with Noranda's management on Tuesday.
   
St. Patrice Ennis, UTASP General-Secretary, told RJR News that the parties will look at various options to limit the impact of Sherwin Alumina filing for bankruptcy.

The development at Sherwin Alumina is likely to result in Noranda Jamaica having to reduce its bauxite production from approximately 4.3/4.7 million tons to 2.8 million tons per annum.

News surfaced last week that there could be further job losses at Noranda.
   
Last December, the company laid off scores of workers, after closing its mining facility for two weeks.
   
The following month it made 13 positions at its Discovery Bay plant redundant.