The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) said it expects no less than a nine per cent pay increase for workers at the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL).
And the union called on the company to ensure that a normal industrial relations climate continues to exist for the remainder of the year.
According to a press release, NAACIE said that after submitting claims for negotiations since June 13, 2007, the union was only invited in October to make representation on behalf of its members. “Even though our original demands for 15% across-the-board increase for 2007 became irrelevant, we were prepared to accept a lesser percentage from the [company] when we recognised the crisis [it] experienced with regard to increased oil and fuel prices internationally.”
NAACIE said the company’s offer of a two per cent across-the-board increase was seen as a recipe for industrial unrest “but our members remain patient.” The group said during the same period the sugar industry experienced a greater crisis, which will affect the economy negatively but the Guyana Sugar Corporation paid its workers an 8.5 per cent increase, when there was no written agreement.
Government last week announced a nine per cent across-the-board increase for the public sector.
NAACIE is therefore calling on GPL to improve the working environment and ensure that its workers are satisfied before the final pay day of the year.
