GAWU condenms GPL Management

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) wishes to condemn the latest action by Management of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. in its blatant disregard for workers rights as Awarded by an Arbitration Panel appointed in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement.

The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial And Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) agreed under the chairmanship of the Chief Labour, Occupational Health and Safety Officer to refer four disputes involving the dismissal of nine employees to a sole Arbitrator.

In accordance with the agreed terms of reference the Management and the Union participated in the Arbitration proceedings after which the Arbitrator made his award as follows:

“Having regard to all the evidence and submission made by the Company and the Union, the tribunal award as follows:

1. The reinstatement of Gladston Cadogan.
2. The reinstatement of Deonarine Ramroop.
3. The reinstatement of Otis Jamieson, Quacy La Rose and Rawle Benjamin.
4. The reinstatement of Brian Seecharran, Renville Mc Bean, Quinsie Huntley and Leon Andrews.

Note: Reinstatement means that the men are to return to work and be paid as if they had never left. That is they are to be paid all wages and shall be entitled to leave or payment in lieu of leave and leave passage assistance where applicable.

However, all emoluments calculated shall not attract any interest and are to be reduced by 33 1/3% representing a sum assessed to have been earned elsewhere during the period of wrongful dismissal.”

On receiving the Award which is final and binding, the Company proceeded to implement it with workers being reinstated and sent on their accrued annual leave.

The latest move by the Management is one where the Company has now moved to deny workers their pay in accordance with the Award on the grounds that it “has decided to challenge the legal basis of the said Award with a view towards reversing same.”

At no time did the Guyana Power and Light express disagreement with the Terms of Reference of the Tribunal nor the person appointed Arbitrator.

The Company’s action is a blatant disrespect for the Collective Labour Agreement and established Industrial Relations practice and must be condemned without any reservation.

Arbitration Awards are legal instruments and it is most appalling that a State owned company is setting this bad example.

GAWU, as a FITUG affiliate, hereby calls on GPL to respect the Arbitration Award.