GAWU upbraids de facto regime over “hot-and-cold” labour approach

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Thursday roasted the de facto coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government over its “hot-and-cold” approach to workers’ rights, condemning this approach as most disturbing.

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine, in a public statement, drew attention to what he called the uneven approach in the Administration’s attitude.
The position was adumbrated in light of public expression of support for workers involved in the recent sale involving Guyana Goldfields Inc to a Canadian company.
Narine, in berating the irregular defense of workers’ rights, said, “We hasten to point out that rights are rights, and they must be enforced without any fear or favour.”
Expanding on his allegations against the de facto administration’s management of workers’ affairs in the country, the GAWU General Secretary cited this as example: “Our Union, as the recognised bargaining agent of the workers of the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL), has for some time been seeking to have the company respect the workers’ right to collective bargaining.
He said, “We have drawn this situation to the attention of the Government through the Department of Labour; yet, though the law is on the workers’ side, there is apparent foot-dragging.”
According to Narine, “This matter was also championed at the level of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB), and while certain action was decided upon, again we must lament that there hasn’t been, seemingly, any alacrity to meaningfully address the issue.”
Additionally, the GAWU Leader said, “Our Union, during 2019, was certified as the recognised bargaining agent on behalf of the workers employed by the NICIL-owned Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI).”
Attempts to engage the company in discussions towards formalising relations have been stonewalled, according to Narine, who accused SEI of “refusing to engage the GAWU.”
According to Narine, this was also drawn to the attention of the Department of Labour and the TURCB, and, “So far, the situation remains unchanged. Like in the instance of DTL, the law favours the workers, and there is apparently little or no efforts to have the company being respectful.”
He said, too, that the union is also encountering a similar situation regarding its application for recognition at the MARDS.
According to Narine, it has been several months now, and “though a decision has been taken to consider our application, within the context of the law, we understand that hardly anything was done.”
Describing the situation, Narine said, “Of course, for the workers, (it) is most frustrating, as they are eagerly looking forward to our Union’s representation.”
The GAWU General Secretary used the occasion to also recall that “while the Administration speaks about upholding workers’ rights, we also cannot forget it was the same Government that denied sugar workers their severance entitlements.”
Those injustices, Narine observed, “had to be corrected by the courts after prolonged legal battles, and saw the workers, for their pains suffered, being awarded damages.”
He noted that “GAWU, nevertheless, even at this late hour, looks forward to the de-facto Government enforcing workers’ rights across-the-board, and that those who have been denied their rights at last receiving justice.”