STERLING Products Limited has signed with the Clerical & Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) a two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement that addresses revised salaries and benefits for all of the company’s categories of employees. The signing took place in the boardroom of the Ministry of Labour at Brickdam, Georgetown.
Speaking after that event, General Secretary of the CCWU, Ann Anderson, said the union was very appreciative of the fact that it has not been receiving any report or information from SPL workers that they are being treated in any manner that is against the labour laws.
In fact, Anderson said, the management team of Sterling Products Limited understands that making a profit should not be its only aim. She outlined that the company has also realised that without its employees there can be no profit.
She commented that the union wants to associate itself with companies and organisations that operate similarly to Sterling Products Limited.
The General Secretary noted that whenever there are negations between the union and the company, the latter always has a valid point to show why it can or cannot do certain things.
She said that ever since the union established a relationship with the company, the company has never been found guilty of hiding facts from the union.
Anderson explained that the company should be a model for other companies. With the open-door policy it has adopted, it allows workers to engage senior staff members at anytime to have issues ironed out; or, in some cases, the union has been facilitated to call the company and have small issues addressed to the satisfaction of both parties, right over the phone.
Sterling Products Limited management has been credited with making the company a better place because of the relationship existing between employees and management.
Ms Anderson said despite the many hardships being experienced elsewhere in some areas of the economy, Sterling Products has consistently been able to give an extra dollar to it employees every year.
The union representative said that while there are several things that can be done differently at the company, the company enjoys the most important thing — support of the employees, because employees are aware that they are being considered in every area of the company’s operation.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of SPL, Deodat Indar, said the company’s treatment of employees is of a high standard, indicative of the company’s mission statement that speaks to caring for employees.
Indar said the Mission Statement of Sterling Products Limited is not just words written on a wall or text, but rather is translated into real means.
He said it is this SPL truthfulness that has earned for the company the support of its employees, which it continues to enjoy each year, and which is playing a huge and meaningful role in the company’s growth.
Indar reiterated his company’s determination to continue having with the union and SPL employees alike that supreme relationship it has been enjoying over the years.
The agreement took the company and the union one week to formulate and eight hours to negotiate.
Speaking to both sides after the signing ceremony, Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle commended the teams for the time they took to come to an agreement. Sterling Products Limited was also commended for the initiative of providing incentives for workers across the board.
Ogle said he does not recall any complaints coming to his desk, or moreso his office, from the union, the company, or SPL employees about anti labour law practices.