Jamaica's bauxite sector could see a reduction in production this weekend after a breakdown in meetings geared towards preventing a walkout at a major production facility.

On Friday, representatives of more than 300 workers said that they were waiting on the green light from their union, the National Workers Union (NWU), to stage the strike against the Windalco Bauxite Company at its Kirkvine plant in Manchester.

The NWU gave the bauxite company an ultimatum on Wednesday and threatened to take industrial action if the workers' requests for productivity incentives are not met by Saturday, union sources said. 

They said talks held at the Ministry of Labour on Thursday failed to resolve the dispute, which affects contract workers who contend they are owed outstanding productivity incentives since last year.

Windalco is jointly owned by the Jamaican government and UC Rusal Alumina Jamaica Ltd, which manages the company.   The Kirkvine plant and its sister company in Ewarton, St. Catherine, together account for about 30 percent of bauxite mined in Jamaica.