KINGSTON, Jamaica – The National Water Commission (NWC) has warned that there could be unplanned interruptions in water supply following this morning’s strike by some of its employees.

NWC said in a release a short while ago that “there is an increased risk of unplanned interruptions in water supply services, further to reported illegal disruptive actions that have negatively impacted normal operations at some of its facilities and commercial offices since early this morning”.  

Reports reaching OBSERVER ONLINE are that some workers have padlocked gates to several NWC offices.

The protest action precedes an emergency meeting called by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in an effort to reduce tensions over fringe benefits claims.

The four unions representing NWC’s unionised staff – Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers, Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, the National Workers Union, and the Union of Private and Public Employees (formerly JUPOPE) – are demanding that the NWC management increase its offers on their claims for improvements in fringe benefits, including meal, boots and shoes allowances, which are still outstanding from the previous negotiations.

The management of the NWC said in the release that it continues to engage in discussions with the Ministry of Finance and at the Ministry of Labour on all the issues properly brought to its attention and remains fully committed to work at resolving all disputes through the appropriate channels and to implement all agreements that have been made by the organisation.

In the meantime, NWC urged the public to store water in the event of any unplanned interruptions in their water supply services and to utilise the services of their many contracted payment agencies in the event of difficulties in accessing any of their commercial offices.