Puerto Rico's Health Department Closes Water Filtration Plants Due to Strike

The Health Department closed four water filtration plants because they could not count on personnel to maintain operations after the strike was declared by the Independent Authentic Union (IAU) at the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (ASA), Puerto Rico's Health Secretary Johnny Rullan announced Tuesday.

"We are not allowed to operate a plant without personnel," Rullan told a newspaper. He said the closed plants were in Aibonito, Peñuelas, Barranquitas and Cayey, but did not say exactly how many clients would be without water service.

Rullan also said the plants would be reopened as soon as they could count on personnel, but that so far he had not received information from ASA about when they could assign employees.

The IAU began a strike Monday due to a stall in negotiations for a new collective agreement, but the ASA and the governor have said that a contingency plan is in place that will keep water available for the entire island.

The health plan is the main source of conflict. In July, company management decided to cancel the insurance administered by the union and contracted with more expensive Triple S, following a report by the Insurance Commissioner which cited possible irregularities in the management of the union plan’s funds.

Source: The Associated Press