Following a hiatus of nearly five years, the union GAWU says it held a “positive” meeting on September 9th with Demerara Timbers limited (DTL).
A statement yesterday from the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said that the resumption of talks followed the intervention of the Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, and other Ministry officials.
“The DTL had been refusing to engage the GAWU though the Union was the bona fide representative of the workers employed by the Company (it sought) to minimize interactions through the exchange of … correspondences. The Union contended that the DTL’s stance was a breach of the Trade Union Recognition Act which obligates discussions between the parties. The GAWU also pointed out that the Recognition and Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement between the Union and the Company required the DTL to engage on a face-to-face basis”, the statement said.
Through the Ministry’s intervention, GAWU said that DTL relented and agreed to resume bilateral discussions with the Union. At the meeting on September 9th, the statement said that both parties expressed a willingness to work together to advance the Company’s operations while seeking to improve the workers’ benefits and conditions of work.
During the meeting, GAWU said that it made several proposals and requested that the Company soberly consider them.
“The DTL has undertaken to consult its managerial team before responding to the Union. Additionally, the GAWU and the DTL have agreed to collaborate on a few matters including the operationalization of a health centre at Mabura Hill and towards the improvement of water supply in the area. On some matters, the Company has agreed with our proposals and in other instances have begun to address the issues”, the statement said.
GAWU said it is of the view that the meeting was “positive”.
