The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) is calling for the resignation of Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) boss Bharat Dindyal, accusing him of anti-union practices and saying that differences were irreconcilable.
“…Though it is not for the union to lament or criticise the CEO’s management style, his relationship with and attitude to NAACIE …has imposed an irreconcilable situation between us and him,” NAACIE’s Secretary Kenneth Joseph wrote in a July 3rd, 2012 letter addressed to Chairman of the Board of GPL Winston Brassington. “Differences between his office and the union are now untenable and [irreconcilable],” he added.
NAACIE represents GPL workers attached to the Operations and Transmissions and Distributions (T&D).
But Dindyal yesterday expressed shock at the union’s stance, saying that he knew of no misunderstandings as he had spoken to Joseph less than two weeks ago and to him “all was well.”
Informing that he had not seen a copy of the letter to GPL’s Board Chairman, Dindyal said, “I do not know of this letter. I have not seen it. Nonetheless I don’t know of any issues with GPL or myself and NAACIE or Mr. Joseph. Quite honestly, I don’t take Mr. Joseph seriously, nor anyone should. Even his own members in the union don’t take him seriously.”
NAACIE said that for over a decade it has tried to compromise and negotiate with the GPL CEO on behalf of the T&D employees but to no avail. “Beginning in 2007, the CEO has caused our November 2001 Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) to be breached… From the issue of “Contracting out of Jobs” to the reduction of staff to the current unfriendly payment of salary decision, the CEO’s every recent edict had served to undermine constructive company union engagement as well as worker morale,” the letter said.
Questioned on the breach mentioned, Dindyal scoffed as he said “Where is this coming from? If that’s how he feels about the agreement then why wait until now to talk? Up to last year, we had arbitration meetings and nothing was said .Why not take up the breaches with the Ministry of Labour or any competent authority?”
According to the union, Clause 52 of the CLA, which governs “contracting out of jobs, which falls within the bargaining unit of the union, without prior discussion and agreement with the union” has been constantly violated with the full knowledge of the CEO. It said Dindyal engaged in the “unsavory practice” of going to the East Coast villages of Lusignan and Mon Repos, arbitrarily employing workers from the communities, then advertising for labour vacant positions already filled. Asked about these practices, Dindyal said he was at a loss as to what Joseph meant. “I have no idea what he is talking about. This letter seems to me was written by someone who woke up one morning and said ‘Look I don’t like Bharat Dindyal, let me write a letter.’ It is all just beyond me,” he said.
Further the union stated that it was Dindyal who inspired a policy where workers are given no time off to collect or cash cheques and if they do during working hours that is listed as days lost and monies are subtracted from their pay. “…His imposition of no time off to collect or cash cheques… reeks of unconscionable non consideration for individual workers circumstances. The corporation is never considerate when workers pay is late, as was frequently the case,” the letter stated.
The union said that given a previous announcement of Dindyal’s retirement and separation from GPL, it said his departure would be appreciated and welcomed.
