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GLU satisfied with municipal wage increase – Duncan

Dec 23, 2008 News

– expects workers to receive a percentage for Christmas

“The arbitrators’ decision is final,” was the remark of General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), Carvil Duncan, when he shared his opinion on the recently recommended wage increase for municipal workers.
During an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Duncan said that the union does not intend to appeal the recommendation made through a compulsory arbitration, which is likely to see the almost 60 per cent of the workers represented by the GLU receive a 14 per cent increase.
It was revealed that a recommendation was made for the workers to be paid a seven per cent increase for last year and another seven per cent for this year, although the union had initially requested that a 10 per cent increase be paid for both years.
In an earlier interview with this newspaper, Duncan had expressed optimism that the matter would go in favour of the union, to wit that workers will be eligible for a 20 per cent increase, representing 10 per cent for 2007 and another 10 per cent for 2008.
It was also pointed out by him that the arbitrator would in fact be bound to rule in favour of the union, since the Council had, since earlier this year, paid about 40 per cent of its workers — primarily officers — a 10 per cent increase for 2008.
Wage negotiations had ensued between the M&CC and the GLU earlier this year, but had ended in a deadlock, thus prompting the Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, to engage the compulsory arbitration process under Section 4 C of the Labour Act.
For this reason, Duncan noted, the panel of arbitrators which was named by the minister had the final say in the matter. He added that the decision made has been accepted by both the union and the workers.
But, according to Duncan, while in past years an arbitration award was paid across the board, this will not be the case this time around.
He explained that, while the GLU had fought for an increase in wages for 2007, despite the claims of the municipality that it could not afford such, the Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union (GLGOU), which represents the officers of the municipality, had forfeited its rights by accepting the claim that the municipality could not pay.
The GLGOU had, as a result, accepted a 10 per cent increase for this year, which was paid only to the approximately 40 per cent of workers it represents.
But with the recent percentage increase recommended by the compulsory arbitration, Duncan said, the GLU-represented workers will be eligible for four per cent more than the GLGOU-represented workers.
Duncan disclosed that, as General Secretary of the GLU, the recent arbitration process represents the twenty-fifth he has been a part of, all of which have been completed favourably.
And while it is not expected that the municipality will be able to pay workers the full retroactive sum before Christmas, Duncan said, it is hoped that they will be able to receive a percentage.
In this regard, he said, the union sent a letter to the municipality advising on the proposal, which is intended to help ensure that workers are able to afford an enjoyable Christmas.

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