NHT Workers Vow Not To Return To Work Until They Are Reassured Of An Increase
900 administrative, ancillary, and clerical staff at the National Housing Trust (NHT), have vowed not to resume work until the NHT management proves that they will address the job evaluation exercise. The management, according to workers, has been using “delay tactics” to avoid addressing the issue, which is related to an exercise that was approved in 2016 by the Ministry of Finance.
The report for the exercise was completed in November 2021, and after a meeting between the NHT Staff Association (NHTSA) and the management team did not present a satisfying result, the workers flooded the streets Friday in many black attires.
NHTSA President Shana Whyte spoke to the Jamaica Observer outside the trust’s head office in New Kingston, saying that they were given old promises, but nothing ever comes from it, and they are yet to be fulfilled.
“It has been too long, and based on the cost of living and everything that is happening now, the workers are at their wits’ end,” Whyte said. “We are the administrative, ancillary, and clerical staff who carry the organisation, we represent the majority of the organisation, and it is a sad day when we have to be here, but it is a necessary day.”
The four per cent increase the Government offered to all public sectors has been rejected by the workers and another meeting has been arranged by the NHTSA for Tuesday, May 17.
According to Whyte, they are expecting management to address the “implementation of the job evaluation”, “the negations” and the “benefits” before work can be resumed.
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