…company agrees to pay several other benefits

As fishing company BEV prepares to close its operations officials and the workers’ representative, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) met on Thursday to hammer out arrangements for workers to be paid their redundancy and other benefits.

The Company is also working secure jobs for the employees. Some of the workers may have an opportunity to be employed by Noble House Seafoods Limited, an entity where GAWU also enjoys bargaining rights. This possibility will be confirmed early next week. Additionally, BEV is reaching out to other employers with a view to secure jobs for the now redundant workers.

In a statement GAWU said through the Union/Company engagement, apart from the statutorily required redundancy payments, the company has agreed to pay workers for their full year’s annual leave, though the years’ service would be incomplete when operations cease. Additionally, the workers would receive too their full incentive payment for July, 2018 though the company would end operations around July 15, 2018.

Also, the company agreed to pay the workers 100 hours of their pay rates they would usually receive during the closed season despite the shuttering of the company’s operations before the season commences. The closed season, which would last from August to October, sees a temporary cessation of fishing operations to allow fish to spawn.

GAWU said its relationship with BEV goes back nearly 25 years when the union became the bargaining agent for the workers employed by the company. “Over the years, our union and the company have generally enjoyed cordial relations and through those relations were able to advance the workers lot. In fact just a few weeks ago, the union and the company concluded their 2018 negotiations which resulted in an eight (8) per cent pay rise, among other improvements. At that time, there wasn’t the faintest of idea that a few weeks later that the workforce would be made redundant,” GAWU said.

According to union on Thursday in keeping with its obligations as outlined in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act and the Trade Union Recognition Act, BEV officially engaged the GAWU on its intentions. The GAWU was represented by its President, Komal Chand; General Secretary, Seepaul Narine among other union officials and members of the BEV GAWU Branch. According to the union the company explained that several factors influenced its decision to close operations.

The union reported owner of the company, BEV Processors Inc; Bruce Vieira contending that in the last few months there has been a substantial decline in the prices being received from his customers locally and abroad. The low prices have resulted in the company having some 600,000 pounds of shrimp on hand. Moreover, GAWU said the company is required by year-end to have Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

On this issue GAWU said Vieira shared that MSC certification process is tedious and it would take about 18 months to complete. “He shared too that sales to overseas markets would be severely curtailed unless the MSC certification is obtained. Vieira was also concerned whether the Government would renew at year-end the concession through which fishing companies are allowed to purchase fuel under arrangements whereby lesser taxes are paid.”

Mr Vieira, in the circumstances, expressed deep fear that his company could suffer heavy losses and huge debts, the union reported.
According to GAWU following the engagement with the company, it met with the workforce and apprised them of the outcome of the engagement. The union shared with the workers its dismay that the situation has reached such a sad end.

Some workers lamented what life could become if they are unable to secure new jobs. The GAWU said it committed itself to ensuring that the workers’ rights were protected and vowed to stand in their corner.