The Unión Independiente Auténtica (UIA), the union representing employees of the Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA), moved toward a 24-hour work stoppage set to begin at 10:00 p.m. Tuesday and end Wednesday at the same time. In response, AAA executive president Luis González Delgado called union leaders to a meeting at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday to discuss wage demands and workload complaints.
UIA president José Cajigas Romero said the union would attend ready to listen but also to demand concrete results for workers. The UIA's Executive Committee approved the strike resolution after three weeks of unsuccessfully requesting a meeting with AAA management. The union cited grievances including a base salary of $10.50, staffing shortages, and how these conditions affect AAA operations amid water rationing. On July 21, the UIA submitted an economic proposal to adjust employee salary scales.
Cajigas Romero said workers have waited too long for answers and that the union has raised the issue directly with management and publicly through the media. The article notes the stoppage at operation centers could jeopardize water production plant operations amid the rationing.