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BNS workers could go on work-to-rule today

The Jamaica Observer, 14 March 2000

UNIONISED workers at Bank of Nova Scotia are expected to go on work-to-rule today to press their demands for an improved wage package from the bank, according to Observer sources.

The workers, who are represented by the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), have requested a 55 per cent increase on salary over two years, but the bank said it could only afford to pay 15 per cent over three years.

At a meeting at the Jamaica Conference Centre in January, workers voted unanimously to reject the bank's proposal for a three year contract and instructed their union to continue discussions at the local level on the basis of the normal two-year contractual arrangement.

The matter was subsequently referred to the Ministry of Labour for arbitration. The parties met at the ministry last Thursday where "some progress was made", the sources said. However, today's action could set back discussions.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Labour has scheduled a meeting with the parties in the dispute for 2:00 pm today in an effort to ensure normality.