Publication: Weekend Nation
Paper Page: 5
Paper Date: Fri, Feb 26, 1999
SUPERVISORS and superintendents of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA)
stayed away from work yesterday, a move that crippling the service's
operation.
Sources told the Weekend Nation, workers were dissatisfied with their working conditions and the length of time it was taking to carry out a regrading exercise. Top on the list of grievances, was the number of trucks available to collect garbage daily.
The Weekend Nation understands that on a given day, at least five drivers used the same truck to do garbage pickups from 2 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. resulting in frequent breakdowns. Drivers sometimes report for duty but have no vehicles with which to work. Ministry of Health officials said 26 trucks had been ordered for the authority, but SSA middle management contends that so far, the promised trucks have failed to materialise.
Meanwhile, they say, supervisors and superintendents have to bear the brunt of public complaints about garbage pile ups across the island. The conditions of work at the various depots is also a bone of contention. Workers say the buildings at Temple Yard are rodent infested and unsanitary, and those located at the Mangrove Pond Landfill are foul-smelling. Conditions at the Wildey and Speighstown depots are cramped and workers are wondering when construction will begin on the promised new offices.
Adding to the workers' frustrations are poor salaries. The Weekend Nation understands that in some instances drivers are making more than, or the same as, supervisors and superintendents. Workers claim that there are large discrepancies between the salaries of top and middle management. They said wages proposals had been sent to the Ministry of the Civil Service through the Barbados Workers Union, but to date no response has been forthcoming.
The sick-out affected work at all SSA
depots, the Mangrove Pond Landfill and the Pulverisation plant. General
Manager, Chris Griffith said the sick-out stalled garbage collection for
the day.