Workers could face sanctions - Labour Minister

Workers could face sanctions – Labour Minister

Nov 24, 2010 News

– Leguan left without power Monday

Workers at the state-owned Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), who took strike action on Monday to press home their demands for higher pay, may be breaching laws that prevent disruption like these in other key service sectors.
This is according to the Ministry of Labour yesterday, which echoed GPL’s assertions that actions are likely in face of the strike which delayed maintenance work and left at least one Essequibo River island, Leguan, without power Monday night.
While the workers’ union, National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), has called off the one-day old strike following meetings with labour authorities, only about 10% of the staff returned to duty yesterday, GPL said.
The Labour Ministry said that from reports it received about half of the 150 workers were back on work.
Leguan was without electricity since the strike action Monday, but some workers were able to restart the plant there yesterday morning.
GPL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bharrat Dindyal, disclosed that except for Leguan, there were no major disruptions to service. East and West Berbice, Garden of Eden on the East Bank Demerara and Versailles, West Bank Demerara, were said to be the sites hardest hit from the strike.
On Monday, the power company said it was able to put emergency measures in place to limit the impact of the strike action which affected the Transmission and Distribution Departments and the Generation sections.
Yesterday, Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir declared that the strike action breached the Essential Services Act, under which a number of entities fall.
While stressing that workers in the services areas are allowed to strike, there are clear procedures to follow.
Under the regulations, there can be no strike action unless the dispute has been reported to the Minister; one month has elapsed after the report or the dispute has not been referred to a tribunal.
The sectors that are classified as Essential Services include docks and wharves and related service; the water and electricity sector; any services essential to the continued provision of telecommunications, the public hospitals and the air traffic control service.
Also restricted are any services provided by the Transport and Harbours Department or the Maritime Authority, drainage and irrigation, the cemetery, and scavenging and solid waste services of the municipalities.
According to Minister Nadir, he is alarmed by the GPL action and another one Monday at the Linden Municipality, “… two alarming instances and the Ministry is moving to condignly deal with them and to ensure that there is respect for our laws.”
The government official was clear that workers who engage in actions contrary to the Essential Services Act open themselves to being terminated and losing their hard earned benefits.
“Every person who contravenes or fails to comply with Section 12 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $30,000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months; and if the offence is a continuing one, a further fine not exceeding one thousand dollars for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues.”
NAACIE is demanding a 15% increase for its members and says that GPL failed to address the matter since earlier this year when a proposal was made to the power company.
The union also argued that in 2008, GPL declared losses in excess of $2B but last year managed to rake in $2B in profits. Additionally, 200 plus workers were made redundant, so there could be no excuses not to pay workers.
GPL on Monday said that the strike action was called without notice.
The power company said that GPL and NAACIE have been meeting over the past weeks on increases in salaries and allowance for 2010 but while some progress has been made, no agreement has been reached.
“NAACIE is fully aware of the procedure which has to be followed leading to industrial action in an essential service but this knowledge has not informed its action or that of its members.” GPL warned that its workers involved in the “illegal action” are aware of the options available to GPL.
According to GPL, actions have been taken to limit the disruption to GPL’s service with a commitment given to keep consumer abreast of developments.
Late Monday, the union decided to call off the strike following the intervention of the Labour Ministry.

Latest News

Workers could face sanctions – Labour Minister

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Allicock, Amsterdam named in GBA training squad 2025 Caribbean Boxing...

Interesting transfers, Clubs secure firepower...

North East beat Back Circle B; set up semi...

DCC executive laud Savory, Imlach for champion...

Dozens of young chess players participate in...

Shai Hope claims Green Belt and Dispatch of the...

Features/Columnists

Forward to the past

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Process, procedure, political people and public servants

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Workers could face sanctions – Labour Minister

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]