–over 1,000 employees to benefit

BANKS DIH Limited and the General Workers Unions (GWU) on Tuesday inked a collective labour agreement in the Banks DIH conference room, which will see 1,103 employees of the company Banks DIH who are members of the GWU benefiting in several ways.

After three weeks of discussions and negotiations, the officials of Banks DIH and GWU have decided to sign a collective labour agreement for the benefit of the employees which will last for the remainder of 2014 up until 2017.
Present at the signing ceremony yesterday were General President of the GWU, Norris Witter, Chairman for the Board of Directors for Banks DIH, Clifford Reis, Chief Labour Officer (CLO), Charles Ogle, other officials and employees of the Banks DIH.
Reis in his address noted that they recently put together meetings with the various departmental managers of Banks DIH to resolve some of the issues affecting the employees.
They then carried out a survey in the departments to a get a firsthand view of what the workers were experiencing over the past three years at Banks DIH.
He further stated after the signing of the collective labour agreement that workshops will be held to inform the workers of what they are entitled to and what they must abide by.
Reis in closing noted that he fully supports the agreement and he was positive that all the workers will be pleased with the benefits they will receive.
In remarks, Witter stated that the agreement although not legally binding, will be treated as such.
He noted that the parties will have to abide by the “spirit of the document” and therefore proceed in favour of what is stated in the agreement.
Witter assured that he is in full support of the agreement because the GWU and Banks DIH share a long lasting relationship spanning 53 years.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Witter added that the agreement entails a hike in wages, fringe benefits, optical benefits, performance incentives and much more which will come as a huge plus to the employees.
He noted also that coming on to the Christmas season workers will receive additional benefits once they remain as members of the GWU.

REDUCTION IN STRIKES
In brief remarks, CLO Charles Ogle noted that for the past two and a half years there has been a reduction in strikes among workers.
Ogle stated that this reduction is due to the fact that more businesses are treating their workers well and the recent minimum wage law now allows workers to receive an adequate wage.
He noted that this agreement is a great step forward for Banks DIH in terms of satisfying their workers.
Ogle in closing urged Banks DIH to continue with the good work that they are doing when it comes to the satisfaction of employees.