Following negotiations, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) have inked an agreement with the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) on pay 2020 increases for workers.
A statement issued by GAWU on Friday said the latest pact brokered jointly by the three unions will see workers receiving pay rises between five and seven per cent from January 1st, this year.
The unions and the company began negotiations earlier this year but these were subsequently affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, an agreement was eventually reached.
Under the agreement, the statement explained, workers increases are based on their performance, which is evaluated by the company.
“The agreement provides a mechanism whereby unsatisfied workers could approach the Union and for another evaluation to be conducted to determine their performance and thus rise-in-pay,” it noted, while adding that apart from pay hikes, the unions and the company reached agreement on improved rates of meals allowance, overtime rates, premium rates and leave passage assistance.
GAWU said the workers are most pleased with the agreement and look forward to receiving their retroactive payments. GAWU added that it is also pleased that an agreement could be reached and it said it looked forward to engagements a bit later with the company as discussions begin to focus on our next agreement.
“The GAWU, as a responsible union, continues to stand by and with its members in this difficult time. It continues to engage employers regarding their employees’ health and well-being at the workplace while ensuring adequate and appropriate protections are provided. We are hopeful in the coming weeks to engage other employers regarding improvements in conditions-of-work,” the statement further said.
