Sacked Forestry Commission workers to receive full benefits – GAWU

The three Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) employees who were sacked last month reportedly over playing a game of dominoes during their lunch break will receive their full benefits. This is according to a statement from the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).
The three persons will uplift from the Commission, payments representing their terminal benefits, notice pay, annual leave entitlements, leave passage allowance, and travelling allowance, GAWU said, adding that the Union intervened after learning of the issue.
According to GAWU, the former GFC staffers met with its officials. Following an extensive engagement where the workers related what transpired, GAWU said that it offered advice and suggestions to the workers who indicated that they wished to receive their outstanding benefits.
As a result, the GAWU wrote the Commission by letter on July 7 demanding the workers’ rights be respected and that they receive all benefits due to them. The Union noted that the GFC agreed with its representation and thereafter shared the computations.
“Following receipt of the calculations, the GAWU engaged the workers to examine collectively their respective computations. An omission was recognised, and this was drawn to the Commission’s attention which it undertook to correct the calculation,” the missive added.
Having cleared the obstacles, the GFC has prepared the workers’ payments for them to uplift. GAWU noted, too, that the workers have expressed their sincere appreciation as they have recognised the importance of the Union in protecting their rights at the workplace.
“They [sacked workers] believed was it not for the involvement of the GAWU they may have faced greater difficulty considering they were not sure of their rights. Our Union, for its part, is heartened that the workers’ rights were upheld and the matter was resolved amicably and within a short period.”
GAWU said it remains convinced that only through well-organised Unions will workers have their rights respected.