By Michel Outridge

A GROUP of postal and telecommunications employees on Thursday morning staged a loud picketing exercise outside the head office of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) company on Brickdam to voice dissatisfaction over recent changes in the terms of employment.Shouting “All dictators must go”, they stood with placards for several hours outside Telephone House on Thursday morning alongside union representatives.

President of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union, Harold Shepherd told the Guyana Chronicle that the union has taken this position because the GT&T management wants to change the conditions of service for members without any consultation with the union.

COLLECTIVE LABOUR AGREEMENT
Shepherd said further that when it comes to making changes to the conditions of service, such as hours of work, days of work, changing the designation of workers, and merging departments within the company with duties that are not similar, the union must be engaged in keeping with the collective labour agreement between the parties.

He also noted that GT&T over the last few months has been violating the collective labour agreement with the union and is also in breach of the country’s labour laws.

The Trade Union Workers Act clearly outlines the status of relationship between the union and management of any organisation, and the management must recognise the union and negotiate in good faith, he declared.

VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT PACKAGE
Shepherd said that GT&T has not been doing that over the last few months and he recalled that earlier this year the company sent out letters highlighting its voluntary retirement package in which they stated that employees age 50 and over who did not accept would not be able to get their full benefits.

He pointed out that no meeting was held to iron out that issue and managers have been meeting with employees directly, excluding the union, to discuss proposed changes with the hours of work, especially for technicians who work on a shift system.

Shepherd explained that in 2014 an employee attached to GT&T fell from a utility pole and died. He was a technician working alone when it happened and it was public-spirited citizens who assisted him to the hospital.

In that light, the union is asking the company to send more than one staff to do work in the field since a lone technician has to be driver/porter/technician at the same time and it is not safe and is in breach of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Shepherd told this newspaper too that GT&T is also pushing out long service employees and contract workers should be confirmed to reap the benefits.

He added that six GT&T workers are moving around in a wagon selling phone cards for the company which is in clear breach of the road safety regulations.

Meanwhile, in a GT&T statement, the company acknowledged the rights of workers but said they will not be intimidated by protest action. The statement noted that GT&T’s leadership supports the rights of the workers and joins their union in rallying for continuous, improved working conditions.

However, its leadership has made it clear that it would not be intimidated when it comes to striking a balance between rights and the long-term sustainability of the company, the release said.

“Our employees have the right to voice their issues and concerns; but we are about to commence Collective Labour Agreement discussions and as such we will engage in dialogue when at the bargaining table. GT&T will not sway otherwise,” said CEO Justin Nedd.

This statement came in response to a protest by approximately 20 of GT&T workers at the company headquarters. GT&T said it shows its commitment to employees by implementing improved health and safety measures and making investments where necessary, including specialised training for safety and operational personnel.

The company said it is also guided by its health and safety officers to uphold requirements and regulations and continues to reach out to the GPTWU in those areas which are collectively agreed on.

“We will always be very respectful of workers’ rights while seeking to remain a premier employer in the country. In 2016 for example, we’ve already surpassed training for our people by more than 100% compared to any of the last 5 years,” Nedd underscored. GT&T has also revitalised its training department to better equip employees in the field, the release said.

“When we talk about ‘DOING MORE’, we mean it all around – for our customers, employees and for Guyana. We are always open to feedback, in whatever form, but will continue to act in the best interest of the wider good and according to the labour laws of the land,” Nedd stated.