In a press release Duncan said this year had been one of fluctuating fortunes for workers. “It has been a year marked by the skimpiest economic growth for a decade,” however, most entities were able to withstand economic pressures and avoid layoffs while offering employees commendable benefits. In the light of this government’s efforts to bring relief to public employees must be commended as “the across-the-board six percent end-of-year hand-shake was a step in the right direction.”
At the same the time, the GLU said it is disappointed with the state of affairs in the bauxite industry managed by Russian firm RUSAL. It said the firm has inflicted additional stress on bauxite workers and their union at the Berbice River operations and posited that there are laws through which “every industrial relations tussle can be settled in an orderly manner.” The union said the time has come for the Ministry of Labour to act swiftly and decisively to force a resolution to this matter.
The GLU said another area of concern is the “ongoing saga in the sugar industry.”
The union said it is obligated to follow the Collective Agreement and procedures enshrined therein as it represents workers at the Demerara Sugar Terminal.
It said too according to reports presented by the Commission of Enquiry into the East Demerara Estates and another by the Review Committee (in 2007) which investigated the Uitvlugt Estate, both of which FITUG was fortunate to scrutinize, have shown indications of poor or mismanagement within the sugar industry. “It is indeed unfair to throw the blame of mismanagement in the lap of the sugar workers,” the GLU said.
The union said after considering all the circumstances it is proper to conclude that the performance of the economy this year was provided by the working class and the private sector. It therefore hopes that more will be done for workers in 2010 by both entities.
