UTASP retracts controversial comment

Negotiating officer at the Union of Technical, Admini-strative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP) Howard Litchmore is retracting comments he made in a Gleaner article on January 5, headlined 'Proposed job cuts at Noranda Bauxite takes union by surprise'.

In the story, Litchmore told The Gleaner that UTASP was not consulted on the proposed reduction in job positions at Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners.

However, the union and Noranda had been in discussions since December about a three to five per cent reduction in job positions.

Litchmore said his union deeply regrets any embarrassment, confusion or misunderstanding caused by his remarks.