The Port Trailer Haulage Association is warning of adverse effects on the economy, if workers at the Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited, fail to cease their protest.

President Ricardo Valentine says the industrial action could result in a domino effect, especially with the Christmas season fast approaching and the increase in demand for goods and services.

Some 1200 workers at the Kingston Freeport Terminal withdrew their service this morning (Dec 7) upset that a company official walked-out of a meeting yesterday, after questions were raised by the union about changes made to the heads of agreement.

There are also concerns over a job evaluation exercise, and timeline for some payments to be made to workers.

He says the protest will result in a pile-up at the terminal, and will in turn create difficulty for truckers to remove containers.

He says to clear the backlog haulage operators will be required to work overtime.

Meantime, representatives of the Trade Union Congress of Jamaica and management of the Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited are locked in a meeting in a bid to resolve the issues.

This after the workers took industrial action from 6 o’clock this morning.

General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress of Jamaica Barrington Dawes says the meeting which started at 3:30 this afternoon, shows signs of progress, but he adds that it was too early to say what the outcome will be.