Union makes damning accusations against GTT

May 16, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor;
Please allow me space in your newspaper to highlight a fraction of the callous and uncaring behaviour being thrust upon the long serving employees of the Guyana Telephone Telegraph Company (GTT) Do More, by the management. GTT creates the impression in the public domain that it upholds, respects and adheres to the Labour Laws, Principles, Conventions and Practices that governs all. This is distant from the truth. Rather, the company continues to ignore and brutalise the core fabric of Industrial Relations practices.
The Guyana Postal & Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU) on many occasions had to vigorously defend the rights of its membership from the dictatorial onslaught being unleashed by the management of GTT. On several occasions, GPTWU had cause to refer numerous violations committed by the company to the Ministry of Social Protection for conciliation after reaching deadlock with the Company at the bilateral level, even though the said violations were in clear conflict with the law and extant Collective Labour Agreement between the two parties. GTT is of the view that the only way it can maximise profit is by continuing to trample upon the rights of its employees. In addition to paying scant regards to their welfare and wellbeing.
Most recently; GTT withdrew the provision of transportation from its employees, a move that is viewed as very unconscionable. The Union was invited by the Company’s Human Resources Manager(HRM) to a meeting on April 12th , 2016 to discuss- transportation .At that meeting, it was stated by the Director of Finance that effective May 1, 2016, the Company would only be providing transportation for its’ employees who commence work before 07:30hrs (7:30am) and those after 18:30 hours (6:30pm), daily.
The Union being aware of the devastating impact such a move would have on its membership who travel from as far as Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara and La Parafaite Harmony, West Bank Demerara to Georgetown on a daily basis to work outlined the following:-
1. That the notice period of approximately two (2) weeks was too short, since the affected employees would need more time to prepare themselves for the early morning hassle through the use of public transportation.
2. The custom and practice of being transported to work, especially those employees who have been working with the company for decades on a shift system, the drastic change could result in additional frustration, and low morale.
3. Management must cushion the cost of transportation for the affected employees, since in some instances the affected employees will have to find an additional ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars on a monthly basis to cater for this heartless move by the Company. More so, there was no meaningful engagement with the Union.
The meeting concluded with the understanding that the Union’s suggestion would be taken into consideration by management. Shockingly, within less than twenty-four hours after, the HRM informed the Union that Management has decided to proceed with its decision as outlined at the meeting
The Union wrote the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Justin Nedd requesting a meeting and at the same time, asked that the decision to withdraw transportation from the employees be put on hold, so as to enable the parties to arrive at an agreeable position. To date, he has not responded.
The employees of the company view the action taken by the company as very uncaring and draconian. This latest move has added to their numerous discomforts and they are further demoralised.
The Union sees Management’s action, as a further erosion of trust between the parties. Amidst all of this, management continues to pay scant regards to its employees’ Health and Safety concerns. Issues such as:
1. Technicians climbing GPL and GTT poles to fix telephone faults without any assistance which is in clear contravention of the Occupational Safety & Health Act.
2. I’m sure that the public can recall that one of GTT’s Technicians, Mr. Vijai Gaznabbie who was working alone on November 3, 2016, when he fell to his death. It was a public spirited citizen who rendered assistance, by taking him to the hospital, since he was working without any assistance.
3. GTT continues its ‘foot dragging’ as it relates to the provision of more durable safety gears for its employees.
4. The Company has been increasing the workload of Technicians, which makes their tasks very stressful and tiresome.
5. The “One Man Team,” where a Technician have to drive, fetch the ladder, climb the posts, with no one to foot the ladder, run drop -wires across the streets and be the lookout security for the items stored in the vehicle continues to permeate the working environment within the company.
6. The Technicians have been executing the duties as drivers and the company is refusing to honour its obligation to pay them for their labour.
This state of affair is resulting in numerous health issues. The public needs to be made aware of the numerous transgressions being committed by GTT, the telephone giant, with no regard for its labour force. GPTWU is not prepared to allow these transgressions by Gil to continue indefinitely, and will be bringing to the fore all the ills that exists therein. This is only a miniscule of what obtains at GTT,
All the transgressions will be made know to the public. Violations of workers’ rights by the company must stop and it must stop now.
Harold Shepherd
President, GPTWU

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