Almost two months of strike action over non-payment of wage increases ended yesterday when Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) workers returned to work, as a result of the GGMC and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) signing terms of resumption on Tuesday.
According to a Memo-randum of Agreement (MOA) between GPSU and GGMC, as a consequence of conciliatory discussions under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Labour, the agreed terms of resumption stipulated that workers would return to work by yesterday and there would be no break in service.
It also stated that “The Board of Directors approval of the SV Jones Associates recommendation which was partially implemented and subsequently approved to upgrade the lower levels of personnel salaries be implemented and paid by February 20, 2015 with effect from January, 1, 2014.”
The MOA added that the agreement does not prejudice an ongoing exercise being conducted by GGMC and GPSU’s representatives to resolve by mutual agreement anomalies identified by the union by March 31, 2015. Moreover, both parties must meet within 72 hours of the resumption to review and implement all relevant activities and resolve all anomalies identified by GPSU in relation to the SV Jones Associates recommendations by the deadlines.
Additionally, workers will be given a one-off payment of one and a half months’ salary, as agreed to with the Board of Directors and GPSU for 2013, for all categories of employees by February, 6, 2015.
However, upon the verification by agreement by GPSU and GGMC of the strike days of each worker, that deduction shall be made at a rate of two days per month from the salaries of those who were on strike, commencing from the month of March, 2015.
Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday, GPSU President Patrick Yarde said the strike action was caused because of the non-compliance of GGMC to the November 21, 2014 terms of resumption.
Yarde commended the workers for “standing up for their rights”, as well as the chairman of GGMC Clinton Williams for signing onto the agreed terms of resumption on Tuesday. Yarde also expressed his hope for the restoration of the relationship between management and the workforce.
The workers commenced strike action last November for five days before resuming work after terms of resumption were agreed, including the payout of an 8% interim increase in salaries. However, strike action resumed on January 7, as a result of the GGMC breaching the terms of resumption.
