6-Day Pay Loss for Noranda Bauxite Workers

Workers at Noranda Bauxite Company in St. Ann, have opted to forgo six days pay per month, instead of being laid off, in light of reduced bauxite production.

The more than one hundred workers through their unions, signed an agreement on Monday for the reduced work week.

The workers are represented by the Union of Technical Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), and the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU).

Noranda-bauxiteNoranda was considering lay-offs as it is no longer exporting some 1.2 m tonnes of bauxite to US based Sherwin Alumina.

Noranda is also facing other challenges as its parent company has filed for bankruptcy.

General Secretary of Utasp, St. Patrice Ennis says employees will work their normal work week, however they will not be paid for six days.

This arrangement will affect all categories of workers.