During the year we continued to address the attitude of the foreign-owned Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) which is refusing to engage our Union in the process of Collective Bargaining. For some time now, the Company’s Management is unwilling to engage the GAWU in face-to-face meetings opting to restrict our relations to correspondences. Our Union has pointed out that Collective Bargaining necessitates such engagements in order for matters to be addressed in a full and frank matter. We have found the Company’s attitude to be most disrespectful and it has even refused to attend meetings summoned by the Department of Labour. The Company’s behaviour apart from being unbecoming is also unlawful. Our laws have clearly pointed to the need for Collective Bargaining between recognised unions and companies.
We have drawn the Company’s demeanour to the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) which is charged with, among other things, upholding the Trade Union Recognition Act which speaks to the requirement of Collective Bargaining. The TURCB has considered that GAWU’s submission is proper and has agreed that the Company should be made to comply with the laws. The matter, we understand, has been referred to the Attorney General (AG) Chambers for action. The matter has been with the AG Chambers for some time now but no action has been pursued. It is disappointing that the rights of the workers are being disregarded and though the law is on their side, it appears there is no impetus for appropriate action. Certainly, no Government should allow any enterprise – local or foreign – to be disrespectful to its people and their rights. While the GAWU will continue to actively follow-up this matter, we are also mulling other steps we could take.
