Workers protest outside the main entrance of the National Water Commission's Eastern Division offices on Maurescaux Road in St. Andrew yesterday. The workers demonstrated against poor representation from trade unions. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SOME WORKERS attached to the National Water Commission's (NWC) Eastern Divisional offices in St. Andrew, protested for several hours yesterday against, what they say, is weak representation from their trade unions.
The workers, who were mainly pre-supervisory and supervisory staff, blocked gates to the office's main entrance, causing traffic to creep along Maurescaux Road and forcing customers to enter the compound on foot.
The workers say representatives of both the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the National workers Union (NWU) have been slow in negotiating workers' salary increases for 2005 and 2006 for about 700 employees. They say negotiations to have their salaries increased by 15 per cent and 16 per cent for the 2005- 2006 period, should have started in January, but to date no negotiation has taken place.
'GIVE A MANDATE'
This, they say, has resulted in a proposition from management to grant workers a pre-tax salary of $42,000 monthly. The workers earn between $25,000 and $33,000 monthly.
"What we asking for from the both unions is that we negotiate. Now if country people (or rural employees of the commission) ask for a package; that is of no concern to us. We give our union officer a mandate to carry out; we expect them to carry it out in good favour," a worker who identified himself as Patrick said.
However, NWU representative Granville Valentine expressed disgust at the workers' action. He said the protest was premature and poorly orchestrated and workers should have waited at least until the final two negotiation dates had passed before taking protest action. He said that two meetings were to be held on December 19 and 20.
"Anything we are doing must be orchestrated. You have to act responsibly. You must seek public support before you take action," Mr. Valentine told The Gleaner.
