AFTER failing to attend a number of meetings planned by the Department of Labour of the
Ministry of Social Protection, Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) is expected to participate
in a tripartite meeting on Friday to resolve several problems affecting its workers. With the Department of Labour acting as the mediator, DTL and the Guyana Agricultural and
General Workers’ Union (GAWU) are expected to negotiate a wage increase for workers
operating at Mabura Hill, Region 10.
In mid-November, workers had downed tools after being informed that DTL was offering a
$5,000 bonus for the Christmas Season in the absence of a 12 per cent increase.
The logging company had informed GAWU that it was in no financial position to offer
workers such a hefty increase.
Workers are hoping now that the union and the logging company arrive at an amicable
solution when they meet on Friday. However, the workers have maintained that they will
not accept the $5,000.
DTL is expected to close down operations from December 18, 2015 for the holiday, allowing
workers to travel home to their families.
WORKING CONDITIONS
In addition to the 12 per cent increase, workers are calling on the company to equip the
township with a new bus, an ambulance, 24 hours of electricity and better working
conditions.
“The working conditions here are beyond poor, the only thing we get is a safety boots,
no helmet, no respirator, no safety gears, nothing…we don’t even have an ambulance in
the case of an emergency,” one of the employees had lamented.
It was further pointed out that the bus currently being used to transport workers from
the township to the worksite and from the township to Linden, Region 10 has been in
operation since the 1980s. In addition, since 2013, workers have been experiencing a
shortage in the supply of electricity.
Currently, the township is powered from 04:00hrs to 23:00hrs daily. Failure to address
their problems can result in prolonged industrial action, workers have warned.