04/05/04

RE: protest action of December 1st 2003

Dear Sir,

We are in receipt of your letter dated 28/04/04 concerning a protest action held on 01/12/03, when the workers of NAWASA voiced their opinions publicly on the administration of the company by the Ag. General Manager, Mr Allen Mc Guire. There are some claims made in your letter which were found to be inaccurate and subjective and to which we object:

(1).That the protest was held "on the grounds of the Authority". We wish to state, the protest was held in the public road between the Ministry of Finance and NAWASA.

(2).The protest "was unprovoked". The employees of NAWASA were operating under very stressful conditions where there was a total breakdown in policies and procedures.

Employees grew increasingly disgruntled and lost that sense of belonging or pride to be associated with NAWASA. This was very evident in the "Face to Face" held with Prime Minister Keith Mitchell on July 25th 2003 at the Youth Center, Grand Anse.

(3).The protest was not held against the "Managing Director" because as far as we know Mr. Mc Guire was the Ag. General Manager as stipulated in the National Water and Sewerage Authority Act of 1990, Part III, Section 9.

(4).Significant inaccuracies surround the construct and delivery of the letter. Some persons who were written to were accused of things that were not true, persons who were not at all close to the protest received letters and even people who are not employees of NAWASA.

(5).Your letter accuses all recipients of displaying placards that "were damaging to the reputation of Mr. Allen Mc Guire." We strongly dispute this false statement.

Based on these observations and noting especially the tone of the concluding paragraph, in which workers were threatened with disciplinary action should they in the future be provoked or moved to take similar action,we conclude that the letter is an attempt to intimidate hard working employees whose only purpose and interest is to see NAWASA prosper.

It is also our feeling, that there were numerous occasions where the NAWASA Board of Directors was made aware of the growing disgruntlement and dissent of workers but nothing was done about it.

An important function of the Board and Management of a company is to develop a motivated workforce that feel respected and appreciated and are all working for the common good of the company.

The General Manager is the key link in this arrangement and is expected to take a lead roll. The deterioration in the work environment that exists in the Authority by December 1st was unprecedented.

It is still our opinion that the General Manager was largely responsible for the stressful, hostile working environment that we were forced to operate under, and we are satisfied with the improvements in working condition experienced since his departure.

The Authority has a mature workforce with the average tenure of persons in excess of 15 years, and never before has staff been aggravated to the point where they had to embark on such action..
As Chairman of the Board we hope that you would use your good office to repair the relationship that existed between the Board, Management and Staff of the Authority so that we can pool our resources and do our best for the continued development of the Authority and the country as a hole.

Oliver Francis - PWU Shop Steward

Kathy-Ann Humphrey - PWU Shop Steward

cc. Mr. Michael Creft - Ag. Manager NAWASA
Mrs. Madonna Harford - President Public Workers Union