THE NATIONAL Water Commission (NWC) yesterday started a redundancy programme which could result in as many as 600 workers losing their jobs, eventually.
Wesley Nelson, senior negotiating officer at the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), which represents some of the workers, said that yesterday they started receiving redundancy letters. "My understanding is that letters have been issued, but we have instructed the workers not to take it until the matter is properly addressed with the company," Mr. Nelson said.
A source at the NWC confirmed that the redundancies are proceeding. Over 100 workers across the board are to be affected in the first phase.
The redundancies went ahead despite a 10-day ultimatum issued by the five unions representing the workers, who had instructed the management of the Commission not to proceed with the exercise until they were provided with detailed documents outlining the new posts, processes and systems to be created, as well as a schedule of the dates for which the various phases will be carried out.
It is understood that the NWC has responded to the unions. However, it could not be ascertain what was their response.
Under the restructuring programme, which resulted from a KPMG audit into the operations of the debt-ridded utility company, approximately 600 employees will be made redundant over an 18-month period. The re-structuring programme will also see a complete overhaul of the management structure of the commission.
"We are of the view that the company will let good sense prevail, but if they insist on carrying out their action then we will meet (with the workers) and discuss it and the appropriate stand taken," Mr. Nelson asserted.
