GLU, M&CC await Labour Minister’s announcement of compulsory arbitration date

Nov 15, 2008 News

General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union, Carvil Duncan, and officials of the Mayor and City Council are awaiting an announcement from Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, as to when the proposed compulsory arbitration will commence.
In a statement issued earlier this week, Minister Nadir had stated that he had decided to intervene in the dispute between the GLU and the M&CC as it relates to wage negotiations which had reached a deadlock.
The union and City Hall have been in deadlock over the wage and salary increases for 2007 and 2008 for those categories of workers that the GLU represents.
While the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) was able to secure a 10 per cent increase for this year for those workers (primarily officers) it represents, it had relinquished its calls for a 2007 increase. The GLU is adamant that the near 60 per cent workers it represents must be paid 10 per cent for both years.
According to the minister’s statement, both parties had agreed to go to arbitration, but, after several meetings, failed to agree on the composition of the arbitration panel.
It was noted in the statement that, in the interest of the workers, and taking into consideration the protracted time of the impasse, the minister had decided that he will invoke the provision of “Compulsory Arbitration” under Chapter 4 (1) (c) of the Labour Laws.
Both parties were informed of the decision, and, according to the statement, the ministry would soon move to establish the arbitration panel and name the members.
According to the GLU General Secretary, up to yesterday he had not been officially informed of a date by which the process will commence. He added that he is not even aware who the arbitrators will be.
He, however, noted that there are individuals who have said that they were asked to be a part of the panel of arbitrators.
It is anticipated, though, that the minister would make an announcement by Monday, Duncan said.
City Mayor Hamilton Green related that he, too, has not been privy to the minister’s plans, but he noted that he is satisfied that the matter now rests squarely in the minister’s control.
The mayor, at a press conference held at City Hall about two weeks ago, had expressed concern over the GLU’s disclosure that it would engage strike action if the council did not accept its terms of negotiation.
In fact, the union had called the workers it represents to engage a go-slow even as full blown strike action was being contemplated.
However, with the intervention of the minister, it is anticipated that the matter will be aptly resolved.
A senior City official, in an invited comment, said that it has still not been ascertained whether the council would be able to pay the workers, should the arbitration go in favour of the union.

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GLU, M&CC await Labour Minister’s announcement of compulsory arbitration date

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