Minister Charles Says Industrial Relations Must Foster Co-operation

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has said that the industrial relations climate must be one that fosters co-operation between workers and managers for the country’s development.
“We must look at industrial relations with a new vision of partnership and co-operation,” he said, noting that the “lock out of workers by management, and workers walking of the job, must be things of the past.”
“Disputes must be settled at the bargaining table,” the Minister stated, as he delivered the keynote address at a dinner held on October 31 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, in honour of former Human Resources and Administration Manager at Jamalco, Sharon Brown.
Managing Director of Jamalco, Jerome Maxwell, in highlighting her contribution, said that Mrs. Brown lead with visionary leadership and integrity.
He credited Mrs. Brown, who also served as Financial Controller, with reforming the financial and accounting processes of the company. “She has met many challenges and has surpassed what we thought was unachievable,” Mr. Maxwell noted.
General Secretary of the Union of Technical and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), St. Patrice Ennis, lauded Mrs. Brown as being “loyal and dedicated, the finest defender of Jamalco, who defended the company’s position with grace, yet she was mindful that she was a worker too.”
Mrs. Brown, in her response, said that her focus throughout her career was not on personal achievement.
“It was about doing the best job I could. I am honoured that I was able to serve,” she stated.
She urged her former co-workers and guests to continue building Jamalco and Jamaica.
Mrs. Brown, who served Jamalco for 24 years, has the distinction of being the first Jamaican financial controller, with previous appointees coming from parent company Alcoa. She was also the first female manager at Jamalco.