Gleaner workers stage protest over delay in new salary and retro payments

Several workers of The Gleaner Company (Media) Limited staged a demonstration Wednesday to protest the entity's decision not to pay new salary rates and retroactive payments for December payroll.

"No money, no work," chanted placard-bearing workers outside the entrance of the 190-year-old company on North Street in downtown Kingston.  

"Run di money," read a placard. Another said "slavery days done from 1834," the year the newspaper was founded and when Britain passed a law abolishing slavery in colonies, including Jamaica. 

The affected workers are represented by the Union of Technical Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP).

The union's General Secretary, St Patrice Ennis, was present with the upset employees.

"We sped up the negotiations. We also made sure that we concluded the negotiations within time so that we could meet the December payroll cycle. At no point during the negotiations did the company indicate or hint that there was any difficulty in making the December payroll cycle," he said.  

The workers got restive yesterday after the company advised of delayed payments. 

"Due to the early cut off date for the December 2024 payroll, and the date on which the heads of agreement contracts were signed being close to that cut-off date, we are unable to process and pay the salary increases to persons represented by UTASP, in time for this December payroll cycle," said an official in an email to staff.

It added: "We regret any disappointment and seek to assure you that the payments will be made as soon as possible."

The Gleaner, the country's leading newspaper, is a member of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group. 

The group reported a loss of more than $500 million for the last financial year.

CEO of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group Anthony Smith said he was "surprised" at the action of the workers. But he said the management is trying to engage with their union to address the issues.  

He acknowledged that the company is facing financial challenges but sought to assure that the monies will be paid. 

Smith was speaking in an interview with Gleaner journalists.

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