Dear Editor,
I am disappointed at the level of representation given to GPL workers by NAACIE., the union which represents them. For the general secretary of the union to say that after a meeting between the union, the displaced workers and GPL the workers left the meeting satisfied was ridiculous. How can any workers who have been made redundant be satisfied with such an occurrence? Time and again I have said that NAACIE under the present leadership has failed the workers, as over the years they have been engaged in negotiations with management of the power company over issues that have affected the workers with little success. Under the previous leadership this union was vibrant as they challenged and negotiated with the then CDC/ESBI management and were able to secure several formidable wage and salary increases and other benefits for the workers.
When GPL informed the union of their (GPL) intended restructuring exercise where several employees would have been sent home, did the union submit any proposal to GPL putting forward a workable plan which could have been implemented and saved those workers from being made redundant? If the answer is yes, it will be interesting to know of that plan. The management of GPL has also mentioned that the displaced workers will benefit from an information technology training programme free of cost, but why wait until the workers have been severed before offering such a programme.
While the offer of such a training programme might be commendable, the question is why would a cash strapped company pay tuition fees for persons who will in no way be providing services to that company in the foreseeable future.
Something about this offer does not make much sense. Under the CDC/ESBI management there was an ongoing training programme which benefited several categories of employees and as a result benefited the company also and this was evident in the improved services GPL was providing then.
Finally the weakness of the present NAACIE is further exposed in the way the results of the last wages and salaries negotiation were handled. After the conclusion of the negotiation the management of GPL announced that a 9% across-the-board increase in wages and salaries would have been paid to the employees. To date GPL has not honoured that agreement and NAACIE is till to address this situation in the interest of the employees.
Yours faithfully,
D Carryl
