KINGSTON, JAMAICA - Jamaica??s National Workers Union (NWU) has requested an urgent meeting with the Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association (JGRA), after reports that the country??s gas station operators are considering significant staff reductions, Radio Jamaica reports.

As a steep gas tax has led to a falloff in gasoline sales in Jamaica, operators have been considering reducing their staff and converting their stations into self-service units. The result would be nearly 3,000 gas station employees losing their jobs.

NWU President Vincent Morrison said that he would write the JGRA this week to request a meeting to discuss the issue. He said he strongly opposes the move to self-service stations.

"It would be unfortunate that the JGRA would want to put nearly 3,000 people out of work because of the taxation policy of the government," Morrison said. "I would want to urge the JGRA to look more carefully at their suggestion and I also want to invite them to dialogue."