Negotiations ongoing to resolve dispute between workers and JEPCO

Jordan Times reported that negotiations are still ongoing to resolve a dispute between Jordanian Electric Power Company and its employees.

Mr Sameer Hijazin VP of the JEPCO workers' independent union said that the employees, who have been on strike since April 8th 2012 decided to give the company until Sunday morning to meet their demands.

JEPCO employees are asking for improved financial benefits including four months bonus salary each year, end of service allowances better health insurance and transportation services for all workers.

The employees threatened that they would escalate their strike and hold an open ended demonstration outside the Prime Ministry if the company did not meet their demands by Thursday.

But MP Mohammad Maraayeh of Southern Badia said that they promised him that they would not escalate their strike action until Sunday. The employees were cooperative and decided to stick with the most important demands. I believe that their demands are simple and do not cost a lot.

Mr Maraayeh said that minister of Labor Mr Maher Wakid and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Mr Qutaiba Abu Qura are working on the issue and we hope that we will find solutions soon.

JEPCO employees are continuing to refuse bill payments from subscribers whom the company has urged to pay their bills at post offices and banks instead.

Mr Marwan Bushnaq DG of JEPCO previously said that the strike was hurting the company's finances, noting that because employees have been refusing bill payments from subscribers the company is owed around JOD 5 million in payments.

He has also said that both the employees' union and the strike were illegal and that the company was planning to take legal action against the strikers.

Source - Jordan Times