The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) is opposed to the move which the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) is considering in laying off a number of workers.
NAACIE President Kenneth Joseph told Stabroek News this on Friday in relation to the power company’s stated intention to sack some 250 workers from its ranks between February and March.
The Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) reported that Joseph in his capacity as General Secretary of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and other representatives of the umbrella organization met with President Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday where the President agreed to set up a meeting between NAACIE and GPL. The meeting which was supposed to happen before the end of the week was put off to early next week. FITUG is comprised of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), NAACIE, the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU).
Joseph said “we think the company should do a comprehensive study internally before thinking of getting rid of people.”
GPL needs to meet with the union and the Ministry of Labour, he added. He stated that if there is a problem with the power company then the parties should discuss ways of easing the difficulty rather than putting people on the breadline. This is so, said Joseph, because releasing workers as a ploy to cut costs could end up being more costly. For instance, he said, some of the contractors hired by the power company for less pay are ex-workers familiar with its operations. However, quite a few “do not know anything” so consequently union members who work for the company would have to do the corrections, bringing about the payment of two bills instead of one. The company, Joseph said, would like to have unorganized contract workers so that they can do as they like. He added, “they have persons who they would like to get rid of so they can cut costs.” The company, he added, must also note the social consequences of its actions.
The NAACIE president indicated that the union has an agreement to look at the company’s position but he contended that “this new entity has no regard for workers.” He pointed out that the company has a right to talk with the workers involved, as stakeholders, for a few key reasons; the company is owned by all Guyanese through the government and the workers work for the government. The Ministry of Labour, according to Joseph, has assisted the situation by asking the company to cease going in the direction it was headed since it was not in compliance with the law. The power company has therefore enlisted the help of the Chief Labour Officer. To comply, he said, the company has to hold discussions with the recognized union to mitigate the situation.
“We are aware the company has a problem with the trade union as we have been bargaining for improved conditions.” Some of these conditions being asked for by the union include rewards for workers who have to take meals outside of a seven-mile radius from their headquarters, night premiums and for working four hours over the stipulated hours of work.
