General Strike Snarls Jamaica

A general strike, called by major unions protesting layoffs and the high cost of living, spread across this Caribbean island today and union leaders said the protest would last at least three days.

A walkout by water commission workers cut off water in the north coast tourist resort city of Montego Bay, and commercial flights were delayed because of a job action by some air traffic controllers. Prison guards, postal workers, bank employees and workers at a variety of private companies joined the strike.