NWC meeting with technical staff in a bid to end sickout

A meeting is currently under way to determine the way forward by protesting technical staff at the National Water Commission (NWC) as a sickout by the workers is impacting the supply of water to some communities.

The NWC management says it is seeking to have the affected water systems restarted in the shortest possible time.

The Gleaner understands that as a precautionary measure, arrangements are being made to deliver trucked water to locations served by the affected facilities.

The NWC called a meeting for Tuesday morning with the five unions representing the disgruntled workers to bring resolution to the varying issues that have led to them taking industrial action.

Our news team was gathered that the strike is due, in part, to a breakdown in the process of an internal appeal in relation to the public sector compensation review scheme.

The workers, including maintenance technicians and electricians, are contending that their positions were not properly evaluated, resulting in them being rated too low.

It is also understood that the industrial action was not sanctioned by the unions.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary Opposition has responded to the sickout by NWC technical staff, calling for direct intervention by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness.

Ian Hayles, Opposition spokesperson on Water, said given their scope of duties, which include the chlorination of water and the repair of water main breaks islandwide, there could be potential risks to public health and water safety.

Yesterday, Minister with the responsibility for Water, Matthew Samuda, sought allay fears that the country's water quality could be affected due to the action.

Samuda said Monday that the department responsible for maintaining water quality was not involved in the sickout.

"The action being taken now is not in good order. It does breach the employment rules related to said employees and we hope good sense will prevail in the shortest possible time," he said.

But while Hayles acknowledged Samuda's comments, he has insisted that the seriousness of the situation calls for a more direct and high-level response.

He added that the safety of the public's water supply cannot be treated lightly.

- Andre Williams

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