WASA staff in lunchtime protest

SOME 30 daily-paid workers employed at State-owned Water And Sewerage Authority (WASA) engaged in a boisterous placard demonstration outside the Authority’s Mon Chagrin Street, San Fernando office yesterday.

Armed with placards, the disgruntled workers vowed to continue their lunch time demonstrations until WASA honours it’s industrial agreement. However, National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) branch president Gregory Ash, said consumers would not be affected by the industrial action which was simultaneously being carried out at the North and Tobago branches of WASA. Ash said the company was in violation of the collective agreement which guaranteed permanent workers preference in the distribution of work assignments.

“Right now, WASA is giving contractors all of the work on the weekend while its permanent workers who are willing to work, are at home,” Ash said. “These contractors do not pay their workers what is stipulated within the collective agreements and which they are also covered by. We want strict adherence to the collective agreement by all contractors employed by the Water and Sewerage Authority,” he added. Ash said WASA had adopted a “lax” attitude toward contractors in terms of health and safety standards. “Even among WASA workers, there are several health and safety matters such as transportation and safety attire such as boots and gloves, which are not being seriously addressed by the company.”