EWDC workers benefit from negotiations for better pay, working conditions – get 25% wage increase

Aug 09, 2018 News

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Workers attached to the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) are reaping the benefits of ongoing dialogue between the General Workers’ Union (GWU) and officials attached to the Ministry of Agriculture.
After some six years of receiving monies way below the minimum wage, workers recently received an increase of approximately 25 percent on their remuneration package.
Last April, the GWU and the EDWC workers led a protest exercise outside the Ministry of Agriculture, Vlissengen Road main office over what they termed failure of the relevant persons to adequately address issues of, “measly remuneration packages and unacceptable employment conditions.”
The workers threatened strike action if the issues, which were brought to the attention of the Ministry since a year before, failed to see redress.
The workers were initially receiving $46,000 a month. However, following negotiations between the Union and Ministry officials the EDWC workers have been getting their rightful minimum wage of at least $60,000 per month.
Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation, (NDIA) Frederick Flatts, told Kaieteur News that the workers are now receiving their rightful amount which is in keeping with the minimum wage for public servants.
“One of the main issues was salaries and we have addressed that. We have brought their basic salaries up to what is correct which is the rightful wage because you can’t pay workers less than the minimum wage,” Flatts said.
He explained that the EDWC management has always been concerned about the issues facing the workers.
However, Flatts told this publication that EDWC does not fall directly under the purview of Government. He explained that the EDWC is serviced through payments made by Neigbourhood Democratic Councils, (NDCs), GUYSUCO and other proprietors.
“The holdup was caused by outstanding payments. The NDCs, GUYSUCO and proprietors have been behind a lot with payments for some time.”
At this point, the CEO noted that there have been some changes as it relates to the payments of the outstanding sums. He said there will still continue to engage the parties on the outstanding amounts.
“We plan to have a meeting with the proprietors to let them understand the difficulties they put us in when they don’t honour their payments.” Meanwhile, Flatts said the Ministry is engaging in further talks with the Union to address the issues affecting the EDWC workers.
President of the GWU, Norris Witter, confirmed that the Union is in negotiations and that it is their hope that matters will be resolved. The life of the EDWC board had expired but a new board was installed about two weeks ago, but we are still engaging them to bring an end to the issues.
In addition to their below minimum wage pay of $22,000 a fortnight, the employees of the EDWC have contended 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 complained that the contributions are deducted from their salaries but not remitted to the relevant agencies.
At the picketing exercise in April, Witter had 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.”
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.
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.”

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