Close to 70% of the workers attached to the Networks and Generation departments of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Company took indefinite strike action yesterday over a demand for a 15% across-the-board pay hike.
According to a release from the power company yesterday, “without notice” workers who are represented by the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and who work in the Transmission and Distribution and Generation departments downed tools around 7 am. The release said GPL and NAACIE have been meeting over the past several weeks on increase in salaries and allowances for this year. GPL stated that while some progress has been made, no agreement was reached.
NAACIE is fully aware of the procedure which has to be followed leading to industrial action in an essential service, GPL stated, adding that “this knowledge has not informed its action, or that of its members”. The power company said the persons involved “in this illegal action” are aware of the options available to GPL. In a release issued yesterday afternoon, NAACIE said it had informed the management of the GPL of its fullest support for the workers on strike and reminded the power company of an indication of frustration by the negotiation team during the meetings held to discuss monetary increases.
NAACIE’s General Secretary Kenneth Joseph told Stabroek News yesterday that the union is aware that there is a 28-day time period before strike action can be taken by workers. However, he said, workers have a right to take strike action when the need arose, adding that the union is paid by its members and is obliged by law to represent them.
Joseph said the issue of an across-the-board increase in salaries and allowances for workers for this year had been discussed in the first quarter of this year and since then NAACIE had sent several proposals on the issue to the power company.
He said GPL did not respond to the proposals until September and when it stated that it could not accommodate the issue.
He said NAACIE was informed that GPL raked in some $2.3 billion before tax in 2009 and since the posts of over 200 workers were made vacant recently, the power company has been employing the services of a number of contractors.
He said evidence exists which suggest that GPL wanted to part company with the 200 workers to prevent situations such as the current one. In the release, NAACIE said the power company has promised to pay an increase for the fewer workers based on a new job evaluation but while the additional work and responsibility is present, the promised payment has not been made and “the union is very perturbed by this slave like condition”.
Joseph said the workers who downed tools included those on the Essequibo Coast and Islands, East and West Berbice and those in Demerara such as at Sophia, Main Street and Garden of Eden. He expressed hope that consumers would not be affected by the strike.
Joseph said the power company needed to discuss the issue and bargain in good faith but it has been side-stepping the issues.
Chief Labour Officer Yoganand Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday afternoon that he had spoken to NAACIE on the issue, noting that an essential service is involved.
GPL said yesterday that action has been taken to limit the disruption of its service and consumers will be kept abreast of developments.
