GAWU, Skeldon Energy sign pact for dispute resolution, salary negotiations

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI) on Monday inked the Recognition and the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement, which will regulate the relationship between the two entities.
A statement from the Union said this included the mechanism for dispute resolution, the appointment of shop stewards, the deduction of Union dues and credit union savings from workers’ wages/salaries, and other general conditions.
The GAWU became the recognised bargaining agent on behalf of SEI’s employees on February 14, 2019, by the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board. However, the parties had some difficulties in arriving at an agreement.
The Union was reported as saying, “On several occasions, our attempts to engage the SEI were resisted. Our attempts to seek the intervention of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) were stalemated after the Board ceased to function following the then Chairperson’s illness. Subsequently, the Board’s life expired. Following the new Government’s ascension to office and the appointment of a new TURCB headed by former Labour Minister, Dr NK Gopaul, the GAWU pursued the issue.”
The TURCB intervened and unambiguously told the SEI that it must engage GAWU. After some back and forth, discussions between GAWU and SEI commenced in January of this year. Through the discussions, the Union and the company have been able to iron out most of the clauses in the agreement.
The SEI had inexplicably maintained that the Union must re-enrol the workers annually. This is a departure from a longstanding practice, wherein once a worker authorises deductions from his/her wages/salary, such deductions continue perpetually once that worker remains in the employ of the company or within the bargaining unit.
The Union then approached the TURCB once again for its assistance. But attempts to resolve the matter were initially unsuccessful.
GAWU had also written Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the electricity sector. The Prime Minister had informed GAWU that he referred the Union’s correspondence to the Chairman of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), which is the majority shareholder. The GPL Board then decided that the SEI must respect the workers’ rights and long-standing practices.
Through the intervention of the Labour Ministry, the Union and the company were able to amicably resolve the differences, paving the way for the signing of the agreement.

At the signing, GAWU President Seepaul Narine shared that he was heartened that the parties could formalise the agreement. He said that the Union was hopeful that the parties could work collectively together to advance the interests of the SEI and the well-being of the employees. SEI’s Human Resources Officer, Troy Pearson shared similar sentiments, expressing the view that it was important for the Union and the company to work together.
Established in 1961, the Union is the largest trade union in Guyana, representing almost 20,000 workers, including the overwhelming majority of sugar workers who are employed in the country’s largest industry. GAWU also represents workers in fish processing, forestry, rice processing, distilleries, services, and other industries.