GLU and M&CC dispute…

Nov 12, 2008 News

Labour Minister imposes compulsory arbitration

As a result of the bitter dispute between the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), as it relates to the wage negotiations for City Hall workers, Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir has decided to intervene in the matter and has since revealed that he will be enforcing compulsory arbitration in order to resolve the issue between the two parties.
According to a press release issued to the media yesterday by the Ministry of Labour, the
Union and City Hall have been in deadlock over the wages and salaries increases for 2007 and 2008, for those categories of workers that the GLU represents.
It was explained that both parties had agreed to go to arbitration, but the parties, after several meetings, failed to agree on the composition of the arbitration panel.
In the interest of the workers and taking into consideration the protracted time in the impasse, Minister Nadir has decided that he will invoke the provision of “Compulsory Arbitration” under Chapter 4 (1) (c) of the Labour Laws.
The concerned parties have been informed of this decision, and it is expected that the Ministry will soon move to establish the arbitration and name the members.
The GLU had planned strike action if no intervening measure was engaged, as General Secretary of the Union, Carvil Duncan, had noted that the Minister of Labour has the power under the law to demand that compulsory arbitration be engaged in the matter.
Duncan had said that the Minister can also exercise his right not to intervene in the matter, leaving the situation to be dealt with at the discretion of the union.
Meanwhile, a release issued by the municipality refuted claims that the council seems to be taking care of staffers in managerial position and is neglecting the lower class of workers.
The release added that earlier this year the council negotiated increases in wages and salaries with both the GLU and the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) that represents the workers of the municipality.
“The GLGOU (which represents primarily officers of the council) accepted the council’s offer of 10 per cent for 2008, forgoing any increases in wages and salaries for its members for 2007,” the release added.
However, it was noted that the GLU rejected the 10 per cent which was offered and had stated that the workers should in fact be paid 10 per cent for 2007 and another 10 per cent for 2008.
The Council, the release noted, could not afford such an increase and therefore agreed to move to conciliation.
“Talks broke down and the matter advanced to arbitration. When the parties met they could not agree on the character of the arbitration…,” stated the release.
As such the council had suggested a tripartite panel while the GLU insisted on a single arbitrator.
“Neither side was willing to change its position. As a consequence, the Minister has to intervene to allow all parties involved to find a way forward,” the release pointed out.

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