Court to decide on injunction for Petrojam worker who wants to remain on the job

Sheryl Blair, an administrative assistant at Petrojam Limited, is awaiting the ruling by the Supreme Court on her injunction to prevent the company from retiring her until her claim has been decided by the court.

Justice Opal Smith heard the application and will give her ruling at a later date.

Blair, who is being represented by attorneys-at-law Hugh Wildman and Anthony Armstrong, is also seeking leave to go to the Judicial Review Court to quash the decision to send her on retirement on December 1 because she is now 60-years-old.

This is outlined in a letter she received from the company on October 7 that the position as highlighted in Petrojam's Trust Deed and Plan Rule and further stated in the company's Termination Redundancy Services Policy and the Employee Handbook, her retirement would take effect on December 1.

She wishes to work according to the revised Pensions (Public Service) Act 2017 which became effective in April 1, 2018 moving the retirement age from 60 to 65.

The administrative assistant has brought a claim against Colin Barnett, secretary of the board of Trustees and manager of Human Resource Development and Administration at the oil refinery.

She will also be pursuing an application for permission to apply for leave to go to the Judicial Review Court after Justice Smith makes her ruling.

Barnett, who is being represented by attorneys-at-law Styart L. Stimpson and Sanya Goffe, instructed by Hart Muirhead Fatta, is contending that he made no decision regarding Blair's termination.

He stated that the letter he wrote to her on October 7 was in his capacity as secretary trustee of the Pension Plan and was just to clarify her misunderstanding regarding a new retirement age.

He also said that the Blair failed to mention that she was informed of the termination by the company via a letter from the general manager, Telory Morgan.

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar