First meeting of arbitration tribunal set for tomorrow

THE first meeting of the arbitration tribunal to address the suspension of Mr. Daniel Stephen, a worker at the Skeldon sugar estate, is set for tomorrow.This was according to President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Mr. Komal Chand.
The tribunal will enquire into the disciplinary action taken against Stephen, where the evidence and submission by the parties will come under scrutiny as an award is to be determined.
The move to arbitration follows the rejection by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) of the recommendation of the Ministry of Labour to reinstate Steven, who was suspended after an altercation with an estate manager.

MASSIVE STRIKE
The suspension last month resulted in a massive strike in the sugar belt and subsequent agreement between GuySuCo and GAWU.
Six conditions were agreed to by the Union and GuySuCo: that the strike by field and factory workers will end; the Union will ensure full resumption of duties by field and factory workers from the day the strike ended; there will be no victimisation on either side because of strike actions; all workers who were on strike will not have their ‘strike day’ counted as absent, but as days not available for work; that the dismissal of the Skeldon factory employee, Mr. Steven Daniels, will be now treated as a suspension, without pay, until the end of the reconciliation talks; and within 24 hours, after resumption of duties, the aggrieved parties – including GAWU – will meet with the Chief Labour Officer, who will make a final decision on the matter.
The Ministry of Labour’s recommendations were not binding but those of the arbitration tribunal will be.

(Navendra Seoraj)