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Jamaican unions pledge to work with sugar owners
KINGSTON, July 11 (Reuters) - Unions representing soon-to-be unemployed sugar workers have pledged to work with the new owners of Jamaica's state-run sugar factories to improve the industry, an official said Friday.
Brazilian firm Infinity Bio Energy (IBI.L: Quote, Profile, Research) will take control of five state-owned sugar factories in October, following a sale last month.
The factories' 13,700 salaried employees are expected to lose their jobs, and will be compensated under a US$34 million program funded by the European Union and the Jamaican government.
Some workers will be rehired but officials say the Brazilian company will need fewer employees because it plans to further mechanize operations.
"We met with Infinity this morning and discussed ways in which we could work with them," Lambert Brown, the president of the University and Allied Workers Union, told Reuters in an interview.
"We recognize that there is likely to be a significant reduction in the work force, as the new owners are looking to make a profit and run a viable industry," he said. "We expressed our support to work closely with them and to support them in their efforts."
Two other unions also represent workers in the sugar industry.
There was no immediate comment from officials of Infinity Bio Energy. (Editing by Marguerita Choy)