THE Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) workers, who were wrongfully dismissed following a one day picketing exercise, are now being forced off of the Mabura Hill, Region 10 concession even as the matter is engaging the attention of the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour.Eleven workers were fired on October 4, 2016 for picketing DTL Head Office in Kingston, Georgetown for an increase in their wages and salaries. They were calling on company to engage the union in good faith negotiations.

Bilateral negotiations between the union and the company reached a stalemate on November 17, 2015 after the company failed to approve any increase in wages and salaries. However, DTL had offered a Christmas Bonus of $5,000 to each worker after informing them that its financial state prevented it from offering an increase. Workers’ salaries were last increased in 2014.

But instead of adhering to the workers’ calls for an increase, the Management of DTL took a decision to dismiss them. Anita Croft, one of the 11 workers who were fired, said the Personnel Manager (ag) Ralph Trotman has instructed them to vacate the concession.

“He has been saying that we must come off the place now but many of us don’t have anywhere to go,” Croft told this newspaper on Thursday.

“He is asking us to leave without giving us our benefits, when we would have laboured for this company. There were times when we worked in the rain, worked from Sunday to Sunday, and this is the thanks we get. It’s heart rendering,” Croft added. She had been in the employ of the company since 1985.

While some of the affected workers will be satisfied if they are paid their benefits in full for their years of service, others are calling to be reinstated.
“Some people have nowhere to go. We all have children going to school, and bills to pay,” Croft added.

Cecilene Thomas, who has served the company for 14 years, said she pleaded with Trotman for more time but was met with major objection.

According to her, Trotman reminded her that it has been three weeks since the batch of 11 was dismissed. Thomas is of the opinion that the affected workers should not be forced to vacate the concession until a decision is made at the level of the Ministry.

“Although he is aware that the matter is before the Ministry, is still maintaining that we were dismissed,” Thomas said.

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Seepaul Narine told Guyana Chronicle that a meeting was planned by the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour this week to discuss the issues at hand but DTL was a no show.

The company subsequently indicated that it was not officially informed. However, when Guyana Chronicle contacted the Department of Labour, the same day it contacted Narine, it was told that the matter had not yet engaged the attention of the Ministry.

In addition to the 11 workers, Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that 20 workers were issued with termination letters recently. The termination will take effect on November 10 and 12. However, it was noted that these employees, unlike the 11, will receive their benefits. Additionally, the company has terminated several contractors for some of their key contractors, with little or no explanation.

Guyana Chronicle has made several attempts to solicit a comment from the Management of DTL but to no avail.