Conservancy workers threaten strike action

Apr 20, 2018 News

…cite outstanding back pay, other employment issues

The General Workers’ Union (GWU) has once again joined members of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) in protest action over the outstanding back pay due to them for some six years.
Three dozen of the affected workers stood outside the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday in a picketing exercise to remind the authorities of the ongoing issue over back pay and the loss of benefits amounting to approximately $12 million.
Marching in circles, holding placards and chanting the words “enough is enough,” and “workers’ rights are human rights,” the workers demanded their concerns be addressed.
The issue affecting the EDWC employees had been brought to the fore last year, when they had protested over what they termed, “measly remuneration packages and unacceptable employment conditions.”
In addition to their below minimum wage pay of $22,000 a fortnight, the employees are contending that they are owed outstanding allowances, including the bush and meal allowances. They are also claiming there are problems as it relates to the payment of NIS and income tax.
The affected workers say that the contributions are deducted from their salaries but not remitted to the relevant agencies.

The picketers on the move

GWU President, Norris Witter

Speaking on behalf of the workers, GWU President Norris Witter told reporters yesterday that the protest is a response to the non–action of the authorities to matters which affect the workers of the EDWC.
Witter explained that the intent of the march was to mainly address the issue of outstanding wages and allowances dating back to 2012.
“Our view is that the management has misinterpreted our willingness to cooperate as a sign of weakness and the situation has met the point of intolerance. We cannot and will not any longer cooperate with a management that is demonstrating scant respect and regard for the welfare and wellbeing of its employees who are, incidentally, members of this union,” Witter said.
He noted the workers had protested over the issues before.
“That was over six months ago…There was a meeting where the management committed to respond to us expeditiously on the issues that we highlighted. But there has been no response to date until we issued an ultimatum in January of this year. They responded three months after saying the issues were more complex than they thought.”
“It took them over four months to respond and it appears that there are persons who are taking us for granted… We have lost confidence in the management of EDWC. It is a shameful and disgusting situation, and we have moved to take the appropriate action,” Witter said.

Workers of the EDWC in front of the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday

The GWU President also used the occasion to call on the intervention of the Labour Department.
“We want to use this forum to call on the Ministry of Social Protection’s Labour Department to intervene through conciliation with a view of having this matter resolved.”
Witter noted that for over 15 years there has not been a renewal of the collective bargaining agreement for the EDWC. He expressed concerns over what he termed a lethargic attitude by the Labour Department.
“When we served on Frederick Flatts, the Chairman of the EDWC board, that ultimatum in January, it was copied to Minister Noel Holder and Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle.”
However to date, he noted there were no enquiries made by the officials as it relates to the concerns of the employees. The Union Head vowed that if the matters persist, workers are prepared to take further action.
“Let me make this very clear—if, after this protest action we are convinced that the management will continue in this manner, we are going to up the ante. If these matters are not addressed, we will move into strike action and we do not want to do that, because we are a responsible Union.”
“But we are not prepared to continue to tolerate these kinds of human rights abuses against the employees,” Witter continued, while noting that the work of the EDWC staff is critical to the effective management of a main water source.
The Union head related that in addition to this, the management had reneged on paying out travel allowances that were usually awarded to accommodate the employees traveling out of the backdam, every week.
“They have also resisted management’s attempt to employ the workers on temporary contracts, even as workers employed for as long as 20 years have only on verbal contract agreement.” (Rehanna Ramsay)

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