Union upset over GTT’s removal of transportation service, other issues

The Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union (GPTWU) has expressed dissatisfaction with the way telephone giant Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company is treating its staff. In a letter to the editor on Friday, union president Harold Shepherd sought to highlight a fraction of what he says is “callous and uncaring” behaviour of the company towards its employees.
According to Shepherd, GTT continues to ignore the core fabric of industrial relations: “GTT is of the view that the only way it can maximise profit is by continuing to trample upon the rights of employees in addition to paying scant regards to their welfare and wellbeing.”
Shepherd disclosed that the company recently withdrew the provision of transportation from its employees, a move the union said is very unconscionable. He noted that the union had even invited GTT’s Human Resources Manager (HRM) to a meeting on April 12, to discuss the matter.
During that meeting, Shepherd said the Director of Finance had indicated that effective May 1, 2016, the company would only be providing transportation for its employees who commence work before 07:30h and those after 18:30h, daily. He pointed out that such a move would have a devastating impact on employees who travel from as far as Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, and La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.
The GPTWU president went on to say that the meeting had concluded with the understanding that the union’s concerns would be taken into consideration by management, however, in less than 24 hours the union was informed that the company has proceeded with its decision.
Moreover, Shepherd said he wrote CEO, Justin Nedd, requesting a meeting and at the same time, asked that the decision to withdraw transportation be put on hold so as to enable the parties to arrive at an agreeable position but there was never a response.
“The employees of the company view the action taken by the company as very uncaring and draconian. This latest move has added to their numerous discomforts and they are further demoralised. The union sees management’s action, as a further erosion of trust between the parties,” the GPTWU outlined.
In addition, Shepherd remarked that this issue comes on the heels of management continuing to pay scant regards to its employees’ health and safety concerns, particularly its technicians who are said to be left to work alone in some cases, without proper safety gears; and have their workload increased.