Following the impasse of negotiations between Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) and Guyana Agricultural
A section of the protesting workers on Monday
and General Workers Union (GAWU) over a pay rise dispute that has led to protests, eight workers attached to DTL were on Tuesday dismissed, a move which has been condemned by the Union.
According to GAWU, the decision the company has taken, prompted the majority of the DTL workforce at its Mabura Hill, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) operations to engage in industrial action on Wednesday.
GAWU through a media release noted that after the workers took part in protesting outside DTL’s Head Office on Monday, with some other employees, eight workers of the DTL, who are members of GAWU, were on Tuesday handed dismissal letters.
“Our Union recalls this is the first time in history that an entity, private or public, has taken such a decision of such an incredulous nature,” the Union noted, adding that it can be seen as “yet another anti-worker and anti-Union act” that is a “flagrant violation of Section 8 of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act” which prohibits the dismissal of workers for their participation in industrial action.
According to the Union, the company’s high-handed and “ominous act” represents a decision which must be roundly condemned by all right-thinking Guyanese. “It is a clear attempt to intimidate the workers and use extra-legal measures to deny workers their just claims for pay increase. GAWU calls on the Government and more so, the Ministry of Social Protection, to ensure that the Company observes the laws, conventions and norms of our country and that the dismissed workers are reinstated in their jobs forthwith,” the Union explained.
It was earlier this week that calls were being made for the Labour Department of the Social Protection Ministry to take legal actions against DTL over the labour violations.
Disgruntled workers along with its Union representative staged a picketing exercise on Monday outside of the company’s headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown, in an attempt to compel management to adhere to their demands for pay increases.
GAWU General Secretary, Seepaul Narine, who was present at the protest, told Guyana Times that the timber company must be prosecuted by Government over its continued disrespect to Guyanese employees.
“What we believe needs to be done now is the Ministry needs to prosecute them because they are in clear violation of the law and not only violating the law to the detriment of the employees but a flagrant disrespect to the Ministry. I don’t think that the Ministry should continue to accept such a situation,” he had stated.
A handful of workers had journeyed from Mabura Hill in Region 10 to call on the DTL company to engage with its Union to conclude its 2015 pay increase negotiations and commence talks for 2016.
The workers called for the removal of the company’s General Manager Martin Ting whom they said has done absolutely nothing to protect the interest of employees. They are calling on the company to return to the bargaining table and favourably resolve the matter. They also expressed that they were committed to continue protest actions until their demands are met and concerns addressed.
GAWU had noted that though a few meetings were held, the company remains unwilling to divulge its financial statements for scrutiny by stakeholders.
Bilateral negotiations between the Union and the company reached a stalemate on November 17, 2015 after the company did not approve any pay rise but offered a Christmas bonus of $5000 to each worker. DTL informed that its financial state precluded it from offering a pay rise. Following the impasse, the dispute was next subjected to conciliatory services by the Social Protection Ministry, through the Department of Labour.
