The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has put the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on notice that workers represented by the union are likely to be affected and made redundant during plans to restructure the company later this year.
NAACIE General Secretary Kenneth Joseph yesterday told Stabroek News that the company received correspondence from GPL, dated April 24, about its intention to restructure.
Joseph said that although it was not explicitly stated, he fears the notice indicated the company’s likely intention to lay off workers represented by NAACIE. As a result, in its official response to GPL, seen by Stabroek News, the union said it “anticipates an urgent meeting to hear your views on the reduction of unionized workers.”
GPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bharat Dindyal yesterday said that the company still has not determined its intended steps after the combined opposition slashed funds intended for the company from $10.2 billion to $5 billion.
He added that the correspondence to NAACIE simply communicated GPL’s intentions to restructure itself in the third quarter of the year, during which union members “are likely to be affected and perhaps made redundant.”
In the letter, GPL promised that “full details setting out the circumstances that necessitate the re-structuring, reasons for the contemplated redundancies, the number and categories of staff likely to be affected, the period over which the restructuring will be carried out and any other relevant information would be provided to the union shortly.”
Dindyal explained that the restructuring includes training and retraining, with is partly aimed at extending customer services to communities on the East Bank Demerara (EBD), as well as East and West Coast communities.
Winston Brassington, Chairman of GPL’s Board of Directors, recently said at a press conference that the cuts to the company’s government subsidy might result in a variety of repercussions, including shifting around of company resources and the possible reduction of staff.
Yesterday, Dindyal, while admitting that the recent budget cuts had forced GPL to look at its changing needs, said that at this point he “couldn’t say with 100% accuracy that the company will reduce its staff.”
Joseph, however, was convinced that some reduction may occur and opined that the move was aimed at taking revenge on NAACIE-represented employees for the recent tussle between the two entities over a wage hike.
Some of NAACIE’s 700 GPL employees went on strike earlier this year after the company refused to pay the wage increase demanded by the union, owing to its “precarious financial position.”
The strike action however, which lasted from February 27 to March 4, ended after Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul, finding the two entities were unable to settle the matter themselves, invoked arbitration.
Joseph said that after meetings on April 10, 25 and 28, the arbitration proceedings are drawing to a close. He added that the ministry has indicated that the results of the proceedings will be out soon. Joseph said that based on the nature of the proceedings, he is sure that NAACIE’s claims will be vindicated.
