The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) on Thursday signed a one-year Collective Labour Agreement (CLA), which will pave the way for the company’s 40 workers to receive wage increases.
The CLA, which was countersigned by Charles Ogle on behalf of the Chief Labour Officer, was signed by Omadatt Samaroo on BBCI’s behalf and Komal Chand, Seepaul Narine, Harridial Ramdihal, Totaram Sooknaan and Sameer Ally on behalf of the Union. In a statement the union said the agreement paves the way for the workers to receive a five per cent wage hike for last year. It also comes on the heels of the Recognition and the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement, which the two parties signed in April.
According to the release, some of the 30 clauses contained in the CLA which were approved by the parties include Payment for Sundays and Public Holidays, Promotion, Meal Allowances, Acting Allowances, Standby Allowance, Annual Leave, Leave Passage Assistance, Sick Leave, Industrial Leave, Maternity Leave, Special Leave and Medical Discharge. On appending the agreement, both the union and the company expressed interest in the well-being of workers and the development of the company to the mutual advantage of both groups.
In August, the majority of BCCI’s employees sought GAWU’s approval to become their representative union. On September 10, 2009, GAWU forwarded its application, supported by two thirds of BBCI employees to the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board, seeking to be certified as their bargaining agent. Approval was granted on November 30, 2009 but the Bridge’s management procrastinated for over four months before having the recognition agreement in place, the union noted. It added that would meet again with the company this year to consider a wage hike for 2011 as well as any adjustment or addition to the fringe benefits of the CLA.
