Maintaining industrial harmony

The Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) is pleased to have, along with the unions representing its employees, successfully negotiated a historic four-year Heads of Agreement.

This marks the first in the history of the Port of Kingston that such an agreement has been reached. It is the direct result of extensive negotiations on the part of the hard-working members of the Joint Industrial Council who serve selflessly to ensure that industrial harmony is maintained at the Port of Kingston.

The signing of the document represents unity among all stakeholders and a commitment to maintaining a stable industrial climate at the port. The SAJ salutes the Unions - the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union and the United Portworkers and Seamen Union - for their dedication to the negotiation process.

In an ever-changing global shipping environment, this agreement enables the local industry to cement plans to establish Jamaica as a global logistics hub and to take advantage of the expected economic spin-offs from a widened Panama Canal.

We are confident that the agreement augurs well for the industry and look forward to working with stakeholders to ensure that Kingston maintains an environment that is conducive to growth.

Kim Clarke

President

Shipping Association of Jamaica