NWC says strike by technical staff affecting some water distribution systems

 

The National Water Commission (NWC) says the strike by technical staff has affected some of its systems and will result in disruption to the distribution of water supply. 

 

The NWC's management says it is striving to have the affected systems restarted in the shortest possible time. In the interim, arrangements are being made to deliver trucked water to locations served by those facilities. 

 

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

 

Radio Jamaica News was informed that the strike is due 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's understood that the industrial action was not sanctioned by the unions.

 

 

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

 

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

 

On Monday, Minister with the responsibility for Water, Matthew Samuda, sought allay fears that the country's water quality could be affected due to the action. He said then that the department responsible for maintaining water quality was not involved in the sick out.

 

But while Mr. Hayles acknowledged Mr. 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. 

 

He also raised concerns about the fairness of the compensation review process, arguing that if the government got it right for members of Parliament, it should be able to do the same for frontline workers who are critical to the well-being of the public.

 

Mr. Hayles said the government cannot afford to have this kind of breakdown in the water sector when the NWC is already struggling to meet the needs of the public.