Delayed wages trigger protest at The Gleaner newspaper

Peaceful Assembly

Several protests occurred in the last quarter of 2024. This report highlights key instances within the media, tourism, and healthcare workers’ sectors. Many of the issues underscore concerns about poor wages and working conditions.

Gleaner staff protest over delayed salaries

On 11th December 2024, staff members of The Gleaner, a major national newspaper, staged a protest over delayed salary increases and retroactive payments. Represented by the Union of Technical Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), the workers demanded timely wage adjustments, chanting slogans such as “No money, no work” outside the company’s headquarters on North Street, Kingston.

The following day, The Gleaner Company (Media) Limited announced that the matter had been resolved. The company stated that an agreement on a payment schedule covering wage and fringe benefits for the 2023–2025 period had been reached on 5th December 2024.

Hotel workers strike

Over 300 hotel workers in high-profile hotels across Jamaica’s west coast went on strike between October and November 2024. “For the last 14 years, commissions have remained the same and have not been increased. Working conditions are horrible,” said Marsha Gaynor, who works in the spa at Secrets Resorts.

The strikes were reported to have affected the country’s tourism industry, which is a major part of its economy. Some of these hotels were Bahia Principe and Jewel Paradise Cove in Runaway Bay, St. Ann, Secrets and Breathless in Montego Bay, and Royalton Negril in Westmoreland. The actions of the Royalton Negril workers in particular yielded the intended results of increased salaries and the suspension of their general manager.

Other areas of concern that led to the strikes were long hours, lack of job security and poor treatment by senior management. Many of the strikes ended following intervention by the tourism and labour ministries, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness even acknowledging the need for a fairer approach to wage distribution.

Junior doctor sickouts

On 9th December 2024, healthcare industrial actions continued with junior doctors staging sickouts across Jamaica to prompt the government to address their compensation issues. This caused health facilities to function in emergency mode, with some regions reporting as high as 100 per cent absence by junior doctors. Emergency rooms remained open, but outpatient services and elective surgeries were substantially reduced.

This action prompted negotiation between the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) and government representatives on 11th December. However, it was further reported that after twelve hours of negotiations, the parties could not come to an agreement.

Residents block roads in protest over poor infrastructure

On 19th November 2024, residents in several St. James communities blocked roads in response to poor road conditions. These blockades disrupted traffic but highlighted long-standing infrastructural issues.

“I want the basic things that the Government should provide and roads should be among them. I remember it used to take me 15 minutes from Montego Bay to come up here, but right now, it takes me a good hour, to show you how the road is bad,” said Ophelia Wright, a resident of Content district.

Councillor for the Rose Hall division in St James East Central, Anthony Murray, said delays in road repair were due to heavy rainfall. It was also reported that the government will begin work on such roads through its J$45-billion Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to the Road Network (SPARK) Programme.

Silent protest against gender-based violence

On 25th November 2024, Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) led its annual silent march in recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). The march took place from the Police Officers' Club on Hope Rd to the Half-Way-Tree Transport. The protest aimed to raise awareness of ongoing gender-based violence, with statistics showing 8,000 domestic violence cases reported in 2022. This is the tenth year of its staging.

Expression

New satirical digital outlet

In late November 2024, a Jamaican-based satirical news outlet called “New News Newsly” was created as a form of civic engagement through social media. Its creator, David Townsend, stated that “in Jamaica, it’s no exaggeration to say the satire writes itself. So, it was almost natural for me, as someone passionate about social issues, to engage said issues in such a way.” He added that “it’s disruptive, lighthearted, impactful, and I get to anonymously challenge cultural norms and encourage public dialogue.”