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He mentioned that NAACIE had entered into an agreement with GPL when that utility company had performed its first major downsizing, and the union would like to make clear its position on the issue.
The union said it is obvious that the GPL CEO had brought the company into disrepute with customers, in the face of strong opposition by the workers and their union.
The union’s press release noted that GPL introduced the Loss Reduction Unit — a non-unionized group of workers — into the company during its attempt to derecognize the union; and that unit includes many former police officers and soldiers, but the GPL move was resisted by the union.
The release said the Loss Reduction Unit was intended to pursue, flush out, and question suspected electricity theft, instead of improving the transmission and distribution or generation system of the company.
NAACIE pointed out that only the poorest of society were wrongfully targeted by the Loss Reduction Unit, whereas GPL is aware of the customers who are most likely to be using unmetered electricity.
And at times, the union recalled, disconnection groups performed duties at certain locations.
The NAACIE release added that no positive results can be seen from the introduction of the Loss Reduction Squad. Line and technical losses continue to place a burden on customers through the system of ‘Peter paying for Paul’.
Moreover, the NAACIE release stated that the company and the union had agreed to train workers to do multi-tasking, and a new job evaluation was done to ensure that those workers were paid in keeping with their specific skills.
New machines were to be acquired to assist the reduced labour force, and some generation units were to have been shut down, thereby requiring fewer workers.
NAACIE noted that no significant amount of training was done, and job classification and description was done without involvement of the union and increases in remuneration.
The release further declared that outsourcing was done to the point where workers were employed by the company from Mon Repos and Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, without utilizing the normal employment channel. Further, some old units continue to be managed by less labour.
The release stated that the reduced number of workers still has to deal with the unchanged workload that existed before January 2009, and greater unsafe practices exist in 2012 than in 2009.
The union is also concerned when the CEO speaks about cost reduction by GPL, when, in September 2009, that company brought an electric-powered Merit treadmill for the CEO. The press release said the union looked forward for the day when all GPL employees would be able to acquire similar machines.
NAACIE has said it received an unsigned letter written to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, dated July 9, 2009 and stamped by GPL on 18th July 2012, detailing corruption. Allegedly, senior officials of GPL were themselves involved in the tendering process for large amounts of instruments needed for the company. Does the CEO know of those shady transactions?
The release added that the union is concerned at the almost untenable relationship existing between the company, the union and workers; and the difference in levels of remuneration and conditions of service when the company considers reducing costs at GPL. It stated that while NAACIE acknowledges that a CEO should be paid commensurately, some of his benefits are outrageous.
The document added that the CEO’s basic salary is US$12,000. He participates in an incentive scheme of 10-20% of his basic salary; and the company furnishes him with housing, security and utility costs of up to US$2500 per month, together with a fully loaded vehicle, fuelled and maintained by the company.
The release noted that the CEO and up to three members of his family are entitled to two business class return air tickets to the US per annum, and to be paid a lump sum of US$5000 for demobilizing costs if the CEO has to move back to his own residence. These conditions, the union opines, are “strange” for any Guyanese employee.
The release further said that important criteria for the job of a CEO are high levels of academic and technical qualifications, and the ability to manage a public utility.
“The union will feel very comfortable if we are to discuss academic qualifications for jobs with its members with respect to the CEO’s office,” NAACIE said.
The union added that the time for serious decision is now, when the country is in discussion with the ILO on decent working conditions.
NAACIE said, “We repeat that the union strongly objects to any renewal of the CEO’s contract. After abusing the GPL with Loss Reduction Unit, the CEO is now resorting to lighter methods of persuasion. He actually admitted on television that his latest loss reduction strategy (was) a costly failure.”
NAACIE also insisted that the Board should be quite conscious that the administration and management of GPL by the CEO is obviously spiralling downwards.
“His mismanagement of the heavily subsidised corporation had made this vital utility an over bearing (burden) on the poor Guyanese tax payers,” NAACIE charged.
