Lambert: WASA workers’ bonus an entitlement, not a favour

President general of the National Union of Government and Federal Workers (NUGFW) James Lambert says sick leave bonuses, usually given to Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) workers in December, are not a favour.

He says it is an entitlement agreed to by management and the union in a collective agreement.

In an interview with Newsday on Tuesday, Lambert said workers gathered at WASA’s Farm Road, St Joseph office to be told why they did not get their bonus this month.

“It was not a protest,” Lambert insisted.

“They quick to say we’re protesting and being dramatic. We are not being dramatic. We just want to know exactly what is going on.”

Lambert said he was told that Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales was surprised to hear that daily-rated WASA workers were entitled to an annual bonus.

“Tell him the president general said take up the collective agreement and read it before making such statements.”

Lambert said Gonzales did not meet with the union to find out how the company operates and the processes that must be followed.

He said he spoke on Tuesday with WASA CEO Alan Poon King who indicated the company was unable to issue bonuses on time, but efforts were being made to ensure that it would be done.

Poon King, he said, did not give any specific reason as to why bonuses were not paid on time. “What he is saying now is what should have been said to the workers initially.”

Lambert said if workers expect to be paid at a certain time and that cannot be done, an explanation should be given.

In a statement to the media, WASA acknowledged that workers who called in sick for two or less days per year were entitled to the bonus.

“The authority wishes to advise that it is committed to meeting its obligations to its employees under the subsisting collective agreement as communicated to the NUGFW by letter dated December 15th, 2020.”