Dear Editor,
The Staff of Guyana Power and Light Inc. may take to the streets in a few days’ time after being told that they will not be getting any salary increases for the year 2020. The negotiating team – NAACIE and the Executive Management team of GPL composed of the DCEO and HR Head met in the Training Department hall in Sophia, Georgetown to continue the already frustrated negotiation process. However, it was at this meeting that the Company’s team who had previously proposed a percentage for increase in salaries over a three year agreement has now withdrawn its proposal to increase salaries. The DCEO told the distraught gathering of workers representatives that the purchase of masks and building of sinks to wash hands has caused the company some expense that will result in the company’s inability to pay increases for the year 2020. This news did not find favour with the representatives present.
The disappointed team of NAACIE reminded the DCEO of the company’s hiring spree, the company has a heavy top management – for whom the company is financing mini-luxury cars, paying hefty salaries with all benefits, and even making space within the current physical structures to house them in fancy offices and the list can go on and on. The distressed team of NAACIE, who represented the workers also wants the public to understand that the workers gave-up their annual staff parties for all locations, annual sports, and annual anniversary activities and inter branch actives due to Covid-19, restarted overtime work, and gave up meal allowances. Yet all of these activities, which usually cost GPL 10 to 15 million dollars annually, are being placed into the pockets of Executive Management, instead of their junior and senior staff hands.
GPL did not shut its doors during the pandemic because it was listed as an essential services provider. The employees particularly meter readers, commercial staff, T&D, design, and Emergency Department/teams worked tirelessly to keep the electricity on in Guyana, notwithstanding the cases of Covid-19 throughout the company. Now it’s time to pay the staff their increases, management is being a bully. Management should reconsider and pay the staff their initial five (5) %.
Yours truly,
(Name and address supplied)
