Thousands of customers without water as NWC strike continues

 

Thousands of National Water Commission (NWC) customers are still without service as the utility company's more than 2,000 employees remain off the job.

 

The workers, who are employed to NWC offices and plants islandwide, started industrial action on Tuesday morning to protest the slow pace of their salary review.

 

Members of the management team are also participating in the strike.

 

Unions representing the workers are meeting at the Ministry of Labour as attempts are made to end the protest. 

 

Granville Valentine, General Secretary of the National Workers Union, said progress is being made to address the concerns which led to the strike. 

 

"The representative of the ministry of Finance has clearly apologised that they would have made mistakes and some missteps in terms of their interpretation and their promises. Without going in too deep in that detail, our view is very clear: since we are not a part of the compensation review, give us something in writing indicating the greenlight for the consultants to be employed, for the reclassification exercise to be continued and implemented with a timeline," he asserted. 

 

The work stoppage has so far not significantly affected hospitals, schools and other public facilities. 

 

However, the strike has so far reportedly cost the National Water Commission more than $100 million.

 

In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, NWC President Mark Barnett said the figure comprises mainly billing losses due to the island-wide disruption in service.