GAWU to meet DTL on Sep 9 after almost 5 years

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) will finally meet with the management of Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) after almost a five-year effort to so.
In a statement, the GAWU noted that after some back and forth with the DTL company, which subjected the Union to communicate by letters only, the two entities are expected to resume their face-to-face engagements on September 9, 2021.
This comes in light of the sought-out intervention of the Labour Ministry and Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) by the Union.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton along with his Ministry, as well as TURCB addressed the matter by engaging DTL on its reluctance to engage the workers’ Union on a face-to-face basis.
The DTL in 2016 had decided to refuse to engage the GAWU in face-to-face discussions while limiting their engagements with the Union to writing.
Meanwhile, the Union had contended that the company’s actions were detrimental to good relations and undermined the principles of collective bargaining.
Moreover, it was pointed out that the DTL’s decision was in breach of the Constitution of Guyana, the Trade Union Recognition Act and the Recognition and Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement subsisting between the GAWU and the DTL.
Thus, a meeting was convened with the GAWU and the DTL on August 31 through the Chief Labour Officer, who reiterated the Ministry’s position, after which the DTL relented and agreed to meet the GAWU on a face-to-face basis.
The GAWU said it looks forward to a fruitful meeting and is hopeful that the two entities can restore the once generally cordial and respectful relations.
The Union will be sending out a list of matters they are hoping to discuss at the September 9 meeting.
In July, workers attached to the DTL had raised concerns over the working conditions such as working 12-hour shifts daily, seven days a week with no days off, and four days “vacation leave”, the lack of proper safety equipment to carry out their necessary functions and the fact that Guyanese employees have different contractual arrangements than foreign workers.
It was shared that while Guyanese workers receive no days off, the contract with foreign workers allow them to have days off and vacation leave.
Those working conditions that they were subjected to, called for intervention from the Labour Ministry.