The Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union (GPTWU) says it has notified the Ministry of Labour of its intention to pursue industrial action if outstanding matters affecting its membership at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) are not resolved.
In a press release, GPTWU president Harold Shepherd said the Union has engaged the GPOC management both at the bilateral and at the level of conciliation at the ministry in an effort to resolve a number of problems, to no avail.
He said the issues are the summary dismissal of former postmaster of the Port Kaituma Post Office Christine Fraser; the termination of the services of Chandrawattie Sukdeo, former postmaster of the Rose Hall Town Post Office and the surcharging of postmasters whom it has been alleged paid fictitious money orders originating from the Port Kaituma Post Office.
The GPTWU said it also engaged them on the “snail pace” approach to the issue of wages and salaries and other allowances negotiations for the membership at the GPOC from January 1 2009 – December 31, 2009 and from January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010. It noted too that its proposal for these increases was submitted since November 2009 but to date “the usual excuse by Management is that the Corporation is in deficit.” The Union said it had also engaged the minister on issues that are affecting the future viability of the Corporation and its impact on the morale of its membership. It has also written the head of the presidential secretariat about these issues.
According to the GPTWU is has also written to the labour minister about the GPOC’s management blatant disregard for his ministry and by extension the Union, by failing to attend conciliatory meetings as scheduled, or in some cases proffering excuses at the last moment not to attend. Shepherd said the Union has “had enough of this nonsense” and its members are on stand-by to take action to alleviate their suffering.
He also said that the GPTWU has since notified the minister of its intention to pursue industrial action if outstanding issues are not resolved with some level of urgency.
