The two unions representing Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) workers are threatening industrial action over the company’s refusal to meet with them jointly to negotiate wages and better working conditions.
In a joint letter to Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul, dated October 30, 2014, the National Association of Agricul-tural, Commercial and Industrial Employ-ees (NAACIE) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) informed that after a year GPL is still to agree to a request for the joint negotiation.
NAACIE General Secretary Kenneth Joseph and GPSU President Patrick Yarde, who signed the letter, note that the two unions have the sole authority to represent workers at GPL. GPSU represents the junior and senior management staff along with the NAACIE, which represents the junior and senior staff.
“We have explained our reason for this action but the GPL continues to refuse our demands. Their only reason is that the two Unions represent categories of workers,” they say in the letter.
As a result, they add that they have “no other alternative” but to take industrial action if the company refuses to negotiate with the unions collectively and this position has been communicated to GPL’s Divisional Director of Human Resources Bal Persaud.
“We will be forced to take whatever action we feel necessary according to the Act which could include but [is] not limited to taking strike action,” they said, while noting that action would be taken, in keeping with the provisions of Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Act, should GPL refuse to negotiate with them no later than 31 days after the date of the letter.
NAACIE workers engaged in strike action last year after unsuccessful wage negotiations with the company. Arbitration was eventually agreed to resolve the impasse.
Joseph told Stabroek News on Tuesday that since the letter was sent, the unions have not received any response from either the Minister or GPL. However, he remained hopeful that the power company gives in to their request.
He noted that during their year long quest for the joint negotiations, the Ministry of Labour had recommended that GPL speak to the unions, however, the company has signaled no intention of doing so. In their letter, the union leaders made reference to a meeting that was held at the Ministry of Labour on October 24, 2014, where they were told of GPL’s unwillingness to agree to the request, despite the company being advised by Senior Labour Officer Karen Vansluytman-Corbin and Francis Carryl.
Joseph added that sometime earlier this year, the power company sent a proposal to meet, but it was declined by both GPSU and NAACIE since GPL wanted to meet with them individually, not collectively.
When Stabroek News visited the offices of GPL, Persaud yesterday related that the company is responding to the issue. He further stated that he has been involved in a number of meetings relating to the dispute and there will be a press release issued on it soon.
Meanwhile, Gopaul said that the ministry has already intervened in the matter and a meeting was held with the company and the unions and he is hoping that by next week there will be a result.
All efforts to contact representatives of GPSU have been futile but according to a source, the GPSU has also been meeting about the dispute.
