NWA employees threaten service withdrawal over restructuring and reclassification issues

Employees at the National Works Agency (NWA) have signalled their intention to withdraw their services if urgent action is not taken to address longstanding issues relating to staff restructuring and reclassification.

The Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) which represents the workers noted that their concerns include salary anomalies, non-alignment of technical officers, non-payment of eligible allowances issues relating to vacation leave entitlement and a reported lack of meaningful engagement on the restructuring process.

President Techa Clarke-Griffiths told IRIE FM News that the workers have also expressed concerns regarding job security from the proposed establishment of the One Road Authority (ORA) and the recently passed National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Act.

She noted that the issues were formally raised by 78 employees, prompting the JCSA to write to the NWA’s management requesting urgent intervention and immediate discussions with the Agency and the Finance Ministry to resolve the issues.

The President said that while the JCSA remains committed to constructive dialogue the frustrations among workers have escalated and she cannot guarantee that operations will not be disrupted.

Mrs. Clarke-Griffiths stated that after publishing a press release yesterday about possible industrial action by the workers, the NWA’s management noted that a meeting would be convened next Tuesday.

She said the workers do not believe that the response is urgent enough.