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GNIC workers down tools for brief period
GNIC workers downed tools for almost two hours yesterday but resumed duties after management and their union assured them that their concerns were being addressed.
– call for more pay, better working conditions
More than 50 workers of the Guyana National Industrial Corporation Inc. (GNIC), Lombard Street, yesterday downed tools, calling for higher pay and better working conditions.
However, only after about two hours off the job, the workers were persuaded to return to their duties.
According to President of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), Carvil Duncan, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Company, a resolution was reached and the workers agreed to resume duties while negotiations are ongoing.
Duncan, who stressed that he was speaking strictly in his capacity as a trade unionist, disclosed that GNIC board is set to meet shortly.
Yesterday, workers said that they decided to take strike action because of the lack of gear, poor salaries and safety issues.
Bhawan McCoon, a workers’ representative of the GLU, pointed out that there are several other crucial issues that also need addressing.
He told Kaieteur News that the union and GNIC’s management kept promising every month to increase their wages but so far nothing has been done to better the situation.
“The reason we took action is because we would like it if the union, management and Mr. Carvil Duncan follow through with the promises they have made us. Because no one has made an attempt to address the concerns of the workers, we decided to make a stand for what we believe are important issues that need to be brought to light.”
Odel Semple, a mechanic of GNIC’s Automotive Department, told Kaieteur News that the union meets with management monthly to “discuss our package which includes wages and safety gear issues.”
Semple claimed that he made several attempts to discuss the issue with Duncan, but his efforts were all in vain since “every time Mr. Duncan meets with us he says one thing but does another.”
Shop Steward, John Allen, said that workers were seriously concerned about the matter and “we as a whole are aware that this action will have serious repercussions.
According to the official, workers are just fed up and are willing to take actions to have their concerns addressed.
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