Unions want NWC heads replaced
Published:Saturday | September 2, 2023 | 12:10 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
Five trade unions representing employees at the National Water Commission (NWC) have written to board chairman Michael Shaw demanding an “urgent” change in leadership at the state-run entity, after accusing its president and vice-president of “gross disrespect” to employees.
The unions represent more than 2,000 of the NWC’s roughly 2,300 employees.
The August 24, 2023 letter, a copy of which was seen by The Gleaner, carried the signature of National Workers Union General Secretary Granville Valentine; Helene Davis-White, general secretary of Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers; Wesley Nelson, senior vice-president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union; NWC Executive Staff Association representative Pamela Hall Newland; and Fitzroy Bryan, president of the Union of Public and Private Employees.
“Regrettably, our members have voiced strong disapproval and lack of confidence in the conduct of both individuals, as well as their joint approach towards critical matters affecting the employees of the National Water Commission,” the letter said of NWC boss Mark Barnett and his deputy, Andrea Edwards Gyles.
The letter, which comes only a month after NWC and unions reached an agreement to cool threats of industrial action, said that there is “growing dissatisfaction” among employees.
The unions have accused the senior executives of breaching an Industrial Disputes Tribunal award; breaching the agreement signed at the Ministry of Labour in July; and breaching internal policies and practices, specifically the educational grant and loan awards to employees’ children.
The five-point agreement signed on July 18 included, among other things, employees being converted to new salary scales under the Government’s salary reclassification exercise, the policy regarding increment, and mileage rate payment.
Barnett declined to comment on the matter when contacted by The Gleaner on Friday, noting that the letter was not addressed to him.
Edwards Gyles also declined comment when The Gleaner reached out to her.
Trust ‘eroded’
The unions asserted that the trust and confidence of the employees in Barnett and Edwards Gyles have been “significantly eroded”.
They alleged that actions taken by the two senior managers have shown a lack of care and commitment to the welfare of NWC employees and the principles that the company stands for and have been governed with throughout the years.
“Given the prevailing circumstances, our members have expressed an unequivocal desire to discontinue any further engagements with Mr Barnett and Mrs [Edwards] Gyles,” the unions said.
The bargaining groups said the culmination of aforementioned events has prompted their members to seek a renewed direction for effective leadership within the company.
“Consequently, we kindly request that any future discussions, negotiations, or interactions involving the unions and its members be directed towards some qualified leadership that is capable of resolving these matters in an amicable way.
“Our hope is this recommended shift in leadership will pave the way for improved relations, adherence to agreements, a renewed focus on the well-being of our valued employees and a respect for the principles that governs our team members (employees),” the unions said.
No intention to ‘rock the boat’
However, the NWC board chair told The Gleaner that he has no intention to “rock the boat”, stressing that the management of the NWC has been able to turn the loss-making entity into a profitable one.
Shaw pointed to the NWC’s $3-billion profit for the 2022-2023 financial year.
He said that as far as he is aware, an agreement was reached and outstanding matters settled.
“There are always anomalies to work out. This is where we are. A document was signed. There are other little issues, but they will have to work them out,” Shaw told The Gleaner on Friday.
“The NWC is running well. It’s probably at the best it has ever been at. I don’t want to change that. It’s the first time in the history of Jamaica, as far as I know, that I have ever seen it make profit,” he added.
He said there has been “excellent” management of the entity and that it is in good shape.
“I don’t want to rock that boat. It really is at a good place. I am not going to get into the emotions of it. The reality is that the place is well run. The audits are good. Collections is great and more so the projects are being done,” he said.
“ … The union has their role to play and we will work with them to find common ground at all times. For me, it is not us and them because we have some great workers,” he added.