UTASP withdraws no consultation claim

The Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), has retracted an assertion made on Monday by one its negotiating officer, Howard Litchmore, that it has not been consulted on the proposed reduction in job positions at Noranda Bauxite.

Noranda Bauxite at Discovery Bay, St Ann announced to carry out a three to five per cent cut in job positions this month. Noranda Bauxite had said that it had been in consultations with unions representing the workers as it prepares to cut jobs this month. The company said this move was in response to the major decline in the global price of aluminium and demand facing the industry.

However, Litchmore, an officer of the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), told The Gleaner yesterday that his union has not been consulted on the proposed reduction in job positions at Noranda Bauxite.

But yesterday, the union issued a retraction and apologized for Litchmore's comments. It said it "deeply regret any embarrassment, confusion or misunderstanding that may be caused."

Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners mines and exports bauxite ore from Discovery Bay, St. Ann, and ships to Gramercy and a third party.