SSA workers off job for second straight day

Workers at the Sanitation Service Authority are off the job for the second straight day.

On Monday, the National Union of Public Workers ( NUPW) said the workers would return to work today, while it continues to seek talks with management to resolve the workers’ grievances.

Workers walked off the job on Monday to press for a pay increase and more hazard pay and washing allowance, among other issues.

Following a meeting with the workers, General Secretary of the NUPW Richard Green said: “The workers were so incensed that a lot of the other issues that were unresolved for some time were raised . . . .”

Meanwhile, in a recorded statement, the SSA’s Operations Manager Michael Nicholls said he was disappointed by the workers’ action.

“This is very disappointing in that recently the workers’ representative met with the chairman and management on a number of real matters that they had raised in a letter on June 20,” he said.

Nicholls said that following that meeting, an agreement was reached regarding washing allowance and the SSA wrote to the Ministry of Public Service seeking approval for the increase and the agency was awaiting confirmation.

He added that within the past three years, the workers received medical insurance – resolving a ten-year outstanding matter – and the SSA also established a recreation centre and improved facilities at all its depots.