By Ravin Singh

FOLLOWING intense negotiations, three workers’ unions – Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and Guyana Labour Union (GLU) – yesterday signed a collective labour agreement on behalf of their members employed at the privately-owned Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). The five-year collective agreement which expires in 2019 was ratified yesterday at the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour, following negotiations which were described by Chief Labour Officer (CLO) Charles Ogle as “mature” as there was no need for intervention by an arbitrator.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
“Collective bargaining is well and alive in Guyana; this is proof of collective bargaining and its four parties… we [the Ministry] are glad that you can reach an agreement without third party intervention,” Ogle told the three unions and DDL yesterday.
According to the agreement, there will be an increase in the minimum wage moving it from $49,000 to $60,000, which represents a 20 per cent increase for workers who were receiving minimum wages. The current minimum wage for private sector companies is $35,000.
Other labour benefits to be granted include fridge and travel allowances, annual increases to their salaries and the granting of necessary equipment relative to their department of work. Consideration was also given for workers to still benefit should external factors such as inflation cause the economy to dip. If this happens, workers still stand to benefit due to the formulation of the agreement.
Leading the negotiation process prior to the signing of the agreement was GAWU, whose General Secretary Seepaul Narine revealed that the agreement arrived at resulted from fruitful negotiations between the participating bodies.
Noting that this achievement is a historic one, given the nature of industrial relations in Guyana, Narine underscored the importance of membership of the unions, which he says play a critical role in negotiating.
The bargaining power, Narine added, is reflected through the membership, where employees vest their confidence in these unions.
“We believe that membership of unions play a critical role in agreements such as these. And before drafting this agreement, we held numerous consultations and discussions with workers and they agreed. So they [the workers] are eagerly awaiting these benefits and increases,” the General Secretary said.

Carvil Duncan, President of the Guyana Labour Union, (GLU) also weighed in on the issue, offering that the negotiation process is not one which is intended to flow freely or smoothly. Rather, disagreements and objections are needed so that all parties in the process benefit. Representing DDL was Ms. Manita Singh-Bird who said that even though DDL demands much of their staff, they remain committed to providing social benefits and attractive remuneration packages for their employees.