Transcript The Sugar Producers` Federation of Jamaica (SPF)

Sugar Producers Federation
of Jamaica
Presentation to the Wint
Commission Of Enquiry
July 6, 2010
1
What is the Sugar Producers’
Federation of Jamaica ?
• The Sugar Producers’ Federation of
Jamaica (SPF) is a registered trade
union;
• It was registered on April 1, 1971.
– Registration number 106.
2
What is the Sugar Producers’
Federation of Jamaica ?
• Background to its formation
– 1939 first labour contract in the sugar industry;
– 1954 the National Workers Union gained
bargaining rights in the industry;
– Prior to 1958, the Manager and Assistant
Manager of the Sugar Manufacturers
Association of Jamaica (SMA) guided
individual estates in dealing with industrial
relations issues as and when they arose;
– 1958- Formation of the SMA’s Industrial
Relations Department.
3
What is the Sugar Producers’
Federation of Jamaica ?
• Background to its formation (cont’):
-1960 West Indies Sugar Company action.
– Questions surrounding SMA’s authority to
conduct labour negotiations;
– Decision to form an independent
organization having more autonomy and
powers of direction than the Industrial
Relations Department of the SMA;
– The Sugar Producers’ Federation of
Jamaica (SPF) was registered in 1971.
4
Membership and Financing
• Members are sugar manufacturers and
those estates that have ceased to
manufacture sugar but continue to grow
cane;
• Membership is not mandatory;
• The operation of the Federation is funded
by its members by way of a cess.
5
Objectives
The rules of the Federation specify the
following as some of the objectives for
which it was established:– To represent in industrial relations matters
all corporations, bodies, partnerships and
individuals being owners or lessees or in
control of factories for the manufacture of
sugar and/or spirits or of cane growers in
Jamaica of not less than 1,000 acres of
cane;
6
Objectives cont’
• To provide services in connection with
Management Development, Training, Industrial
Engineering, Work Study, Wage Structuring,
Job Evaluation and other similar functions;
• To collect and circulate commercial statistics
and information of all kinds provided that the
Federation shall not release any information
furnished to the Federation by any member
without that member’s consent;
• To regulate the relations between workmen and
the Federation acting on behalf of any or all of
its members in their capacity as employers;
7
Objectives cont’
• To promote by negotiation and/or arbitration
the settlement of differences and disputes
between workmen and the Federation and/or
any of its members;
• To promote good relations generally between
employers and workmen in the Jamaican
sugar industry;
• To consider and discuss all questions
affecting the terms and conditions governing
the employment of workmen.
8
The Functions of SPF
• Labour Negotiations:
– Negotiate Collective Labour Agreements;
– Ensure that the estates understand both the
letter and the spirit of the Agreements
reached with the unions;
– Monitor the implementation of the
agreements.
9
The Functions of SPF cont’
• Dispute Resolution:
– Pursue a policy which states that grievances
raised by the workers should be settled at the
earliest stage in the grievance procedure that it
can be competently dealt with;
– Disputes between the unions and the estates,
which are not resolved at the estate, are referred
to the Federation. At this stage role of the
Federation is conciliatory;
– If the dispute is not resolved it can be referred to
the Ministry of Labour at which stage the role of
Federation changes to that of advocate.
10
The Functions of SPF cont’
• Administrative:
Provides services in the areas of:
– Group Life Insurance
– Personal Accident Insurance
– Hospitalization Insurance
– Pension Schemes
– Scholarship Schemes
11
The Functions of SPF cont’
• Administrative cont’:
– Organizes Inter Estates Sports Competitions
– Conducts training seminars at the estates at
the request of its members
– Compiles and circulates the Stats Report of
the Federation every two years. The next
publication is due in respect of 2010.
12
The Way Forward
1. Productivity bargaining should form part of the
way forward. Work needs to be done to ensure
that all parties are committed to this approach.
A part of the agreement between the Unions
representing sugar workers and the Federation which
was signed on March 20, 2006 specified that,
‘The services of the Productivity Centre will be engaged
to meet by October 1, 2006 with a committee comprised
of employers, unions and the SPF to determine the
feasibility of introducing Productivity Schemes in the
sugar industry. If the committee agrees that it is
worthwhile introducing a scheme, discussions should be
done as part of the 2008/2009 negotiations.’
13
The Way Forward cont’
• Dr. Charles Douglas, of the Jamaica Productivity
Center, met with the committee and made a
presentation on October 12, 2006. At a meeting
of the unions and the Federation on March 16,
2007 it was decided that:‘In light of conditions currently pertaining in the
industry, the introduction of Productivity
Schemes would not be pursued at this time.’
14
The Way Forward cont’
2. Ensure that the industry employs the
minimum number of persons needed to
effectively carry out the operations,
thereby enhancing the earning potential of
the employees;
3. Attract, train and retain the services of
competent personnel.
15
Conclusion
• The objectives as stated in the rules of the
Federation and referred to earlier are
relevant for the future and should be
pursued.
• The Sugar Producers’ Federation of
Jamaica can and will play an important
part in the future of the sugar industry
dependent on the extent to which its
members utilize its services.
16