The Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU), the union which represents employees in the telecoms sector, is objecting to recent statements made by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) relating to GT&T and the future of the entity.
During a press conference held yesterday at the Union’s East Street Office, General Secretary of the Union Harold Shepherd said that “we want to assure our membership and the public that we will not stand idly and allow hindrances to be placed in the path of the employees’ contributions to national development.”
Earlier this month, the Public Utilities Commission expressed strong concern over “the severe disruptions” in GT&T’s voice and data services… and warned that if there are repeated interruptions it may recommend that other providers be issued with licences allowing for international connectivity.
Shepherd said that the GPTWU has met with the management of GT&T and the Public Utilities Commission about these recent developments and according to him, they have been reassured that there will be no ill treatment meted out to the employees or any action undertaken which will affect the well being of the company.
President of the Union Gillian Burton said that recent statements made by the PUC, have sent the wrong impression to employees, causing them to feel that their jobs were at risk. She said that over the years employees in the sector have given of their best to the company and to the overall development of the country. Burton stated that undoubtedly the company and employees have embarked on the improving of the telecommunication sector.
She also said that the employees of GT&T have contributed in a positive and meaningfully way financially to the development of Guyana through the taxes that they pay.
When asked about what came out of these deliberations with the PUC, Burton said that following these deliberations the Chairman of the PUC, who is retired Justice Prem Persaud, had promised that the Commission “will cease, in any negative way, to publicize statements that will seek to have a negative impact on the employees of the company.”
Burton, meanwhile, said that the union will continue, along with the management of GT&T, to fight for the best interests of the employees.
Other union representatives at the press conference were Maurice Walcott, Vice President of the GT&T Sector, and Vibert Adams, Branch Chairman of the GT&T Demerara Branch.
