KINGSTON, Jamaica — National Water Commission(NWC) workers are now converged at the NWC head office on Marescaux Road in protest over an outstanding reclassification exercise as well as the ongoing public sector compensation review.

“We want wi money, wi want we money. Di minister say him nuh memba we. A 25 years and dem nuh memba mi!” That was the chant of one worker.

Informing OBSERVER ONLINE that piped water across the island will not be turned on until their demands are met, another worker stated that they have been working for “little to no pay.”

“We not gonna turn on the water. We are staying right out here till justice has come. We are at the bottom of the table when it comes on to payment. We need better basic pay, we are not getting what we are supposed to get. Our benefits, our allowances – nothing. We want better basic pay and we want our reclassification money from way back when. I am here how long, and from ’96, ’97 we get reclassification money and there is no more.”

She stated that they have been demanding reclassification since 2008, but have heard nothing since.

“Each time we go to the table, we hear that we are not government workers when we fi get benefit. But once we are not to get benefits, we hear that we are government workers. We need better. We need justice.”