DEMERARA Timbers Limited (DTL) has refused to meet with the Social Protection Ministry to discuss the dismissal of eleven workers who participated in a picketing exercise against the foreign-owned company.According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the workers were dismissed by the company after they had participated in a picketing exercise outside the company’s Head Office on October 3, to emphasise their just demand for wage increases for year 2015.
GAWU said that in seeking an “amicable and satisfactory solution,” the union sought the conciliatory services lawfully provided by the Ministry of Social Protection to address workers’ disputes and problems.
The Ministry then reached out to the company via a letter dated October 25, 2016, to meet and discuss the employment termination by the company. The letter was addressed to General Manager of the company, Martin Ting.
It stated that: “The Ministry of Social Protection, in keeping with its mandate with regard to intervening into matters of Industrial Relations and seeking out ways for the amicable settlement in such issues, hereby invites you to attend a meeting to discuss the matter relating to the recent dismissal of several workers.”
The meeting was scheduled to be held in the Ministry’s boardroom at its Brickdam location at 10:00hrs on Thursday. The Ministry advised the company too that by means of its letter, the union will be informed of the meeting.
However, Ting responded in a subsequent letter, on October 26, noting that while he acknowledges receipt of the letter, the company is not inclined to meet with the Ministry as it will not reconsider its position regarding the dismissed workers.
“We have indicated to GAWU, during discussions on 11th October 2016 that the company will not be reconsidering its position with regard to the dismissed workers. The company views the strike action as unlawful repudiatory breach of their employment contract.”
The letter went on to state that, “Since the decision is taken and the company will stick to its decision in view of the company’s protocol, we therefore decline to attend any meeting with the union to discuss this matter.
And according to the union in a statement on Thursday, this letter is a clear demonstration of DTL’s “uncalled-for disregard of the Ministry, apart from the aggrieved workers.”
As a result, GAWU sought to urge the Ministry to uphold its authority and ensure that the foreign-owned company respects the laws of our country, as well as the established principles and conventions, which it says are integral to safe-guarding the welfare of the working people.
