Close to 80 NWA staff ready to walk out over pay, restructuring and job fears

The Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) has cautioned that employees at the National Works Agency (NWA) are increasingly unsettled as they press for swift answers to long-running problems tied to staff restructuring and job reclassification.

According to the union body, roughly 78 workers have signalled that they are prepared to stop work if their grievances are not addressed promptly.

Among the issues listed are pay inconsistencies, the misalignment of technical officers, unpaid allowances workers qualify for, disputes over vacation leave, and what members describe as limited consultation by management during the restructuring exercise.

Staff have also raised worries about their positions should plans proceed for a One Road Authority and the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA).

The JCSA says it has contacted the chief executive officer of the NWA, calling for urgent steps and immediate talks involving the agency and the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.

JCSA President Techa Clarke-Griffiths said the association still favours good-faith discussion, but warned that workers’ patience is wearing thin and that prompt action is needed to keep NWA operations running smoothly.