Latest update November 26th, 2024 12:58 AM
Dismissed GuySuCo worker back to work
Daniel Stephen, a tractor operator in the Cane Transport Department, employed at Skeldon Estate, who was controversially dismissed more than a year ago, has been reinstated.
Back at work: Daniel Stephen
According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), Stephen will be compensated for his lost wages with approximately seven months’ pay of the 14-month period he was off the job. He was dismissed on September 19, 2014, with his reinstatement effective last Monday.
Announcing his reinstatement, GAWU said that Stephen’s dismissal by the then Estate Manager, Devendra Kumar, evoked the wrath of his fellow factory and field workers who resorted to strike action spontaneously for a few days.
“Workers from Albion and Rose Hall Estates on two separate days struck in a show of solidarity with Stephen. The strike ended before the strike turn of Blairmont, East Demerara, Wales and Uitvlugt Estates.”
GAWU and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), under the aegis of the then Ministry of Labour, now the Ministry of Social Protection, had approved the Terms of Resumption Agreement which stipulated, among other things, the recall of Stephen’s dismissal letter and in its place, a letter of suspension.
GAWU said that dispute itself was next subjected to conciliatory proceedings which concluded on the advice that Stephen be reinstated in his job.
“GuySuCo disagreed with the Chief Labour Officer and, therefore, refused to re-instate the aggrieved worker. The dispute next became subject to arbitration proceedings. The sole Arbitrator, Mohamed Akeel, former Chief Labour Officer, out of the blue, after two sittings lasting about two hours each, ruled that Stephen remains dismissed. The ruling astounded the union, the aggrieved, and the union’s Attorney-at-Law, Mr Roysdale Forde.”
The union said that Akeel did not hear arguments from the union nor GuySuCo.
“The union at the two short sittings was arguing that GuySuCo breached its own Disciplinary Code and Procedures. The unorthodox conduct of the Arbitrator forced the Union’s Attorney to seek judicial intervention. Chief Justice (a.g.) Ian Chang set aside Akeel’s ruling.”
Akeel, GAWU claimed yesterday, is reported to have conducted another arbitration exercise without its participation and that of the Secretary of the Tribunal.
“Thereafter, against the changes in the management of the GuySuCo and a new Government following the May 11, 2015 elections, the union followed its representation to have Daniel Stephen reinstated in his job. GAWU recognizes the role of the Ministry of Social Protection, among others, in the reinstatement of Daniel Stephen.”
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