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THE National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE)Union, representing employees of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), has rejected a one percent across the board salary increase and has issued an ultimatum which expires on February 24. NAACIE General Secretary Kenneth Joseph declared that the union is asking for an eight percent increase across the board for the GPL employees but the company is only offering one percent.
During a press conference yesterday at the union’s headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown, General Secretary Joseph said: “This is totally unacceptable. Our union has been instructed to battle for reasonable, increased wages for our members and for the respect for our agreement by the GPL.”
He explained that NAACIE has been dealing with GPL and the former Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) since 1991 according to the laws of Guyana, with the collective agreements and practices accepted by both parties.
He noted that with the advent of the management consultants from a contracting firm from 1998 to 2003, a comprehensive collective labour agreement was negotiated.
According to him, this collective agreement was respected by both sides during the period of NAACIE’s engagement with GPL. However, Joseph related that as of 2007 the corporation began breaching the agreement, which resulted in some industrial unrest.
In addition, he claimed that GPL started to reduce its staff strength since 2006 in an attempt to undermine the union and even did so without resorting to the “outsourcing” clause in the agreement.
He further stated that this infringement continued even with the knowledge of the Labour Ministry and the government.
Moreover, he contended that the union is not allowed access to information on expenditure, receipts, production cost comparisons, labour cost comparisons, or any other related information so as to be able to understand or accept the arguments of the company and to be able to negotiate properly.
In that light, NAACIE has issued an ultimatum to GPL which expires on February 24, for the company to show respect to the agreement they signed, Joseph stated.
However, he noted that “We are prepared to continue the discussion at whatever stage of our agreement to come to a favourable position on salaries and fringes.”
Joseph said that yesterday’s press conference was an attempt to avert the crisis that can arrive due to industrial action by GPL employees. While he said that strike actions were a last resort measure, he emphasized that the union has tried everything else.
“We have now reached to the place that we only have the last resort to use. We’ve tried everything else, we’ve been trying for years…so yes, if it comes to us having to down tools, we will not hesitate,” he stressed.
Also present at the press conference yesterday were other executive members of NAACIE – Grievance Officer, Imtiaz Bacchus; Acting President, Sunil Beepat; Union Representative of Essequibo, Segimund Abrams; a GPL employee, Ramjohn Khan and from Bosai in Linden, Linell Warden.
NAACIE is recognized by the Trade Union Recognition Act as the sole bargaining unit for junior and senior staff at GPL, while the Guyana Public Service Union, the other union operating in the corporation, represents the junior and senior management category.
During a press conference yesterday at the union’s headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown, General Secretary Joseph said: “This is totally unacceptable. Our union has been instructed to battle for reasonable, increased wages for our members and for the respect for our agreement by the GPL.”
He explained that NAACIE has been dealing with GPL and the former Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) since 1991 according to the laws of Guyana, with the collective agreements and practices accepted by both parties.
He noted that with the advent of the management consultants from a contracting firm from 1998 to 2003, a comprehensive collective labour agreement was negotiated.
According to him, this collective agreement was respected by both sides during the period of NAACIE’s engagement with GPL. However, Joseph related that as of 2007 the corporation began breaching the agreement, which resulted in some industrial unrest.
In addition, he claimed that GPL started to reduce its staff strength since 2006 in an attempt to undermine the union and even did so without resorting to the “outsourcing” clause in the agreement.
He further stated that this infringement continued even with the knowledge of the Labour Ministry and the government.
Moreover, he contended that the union is not allowed access to information on expenditure, receipts, production cost comparisons, labour cost comparisons, or any other related information so as to be able to understand or accept the arguments of the company and to be able to negotiate properly.
In that light, NAACIE has issued an ultimatum to GPL which expires on February 24, for the company to show respect to the agreement they signed, Joseph stated.
However, he noted that “We are prepared to continue the discussion at whatever stage of our agreement to come to a favourable position on salaries and fringes.”
Joseph said that yesterday’s press conference was an attempt to avert the crisis that can arrive due to industrial action by GPL employees. While he said that strike actions were a last resort measure, he emphasized that the union has tried everything else.
“We have now reached to the place that we only have the last resort to use. We’ve tried everything else, we’ve been trying for years…so yes, if it comes to us having to down tools, we will not hesitate,” he stressed.
Also present at the press conference yesterday were other executive members of NAACIE – Grievance Officer, Imtiaz Bacchus; Acting President, Sunil Beepat; Union Representative of Essequibo, Segimund Abrams; a GPL employee, Ramjohn Khan and from Bosai in Linden, Linell Warden.
NAACIE is recognized by the Trade Union Recognition Act as the sole bargaining unit for junior and senior staff at GPL, while the Guyana Public Service Union, the other union operating in the corporation, represents the junior and senior management category.
