Through joint negotiations between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), workers in the respective union bargaining units are benefitting from improved pay and other conditions-of-work. For several rounds of negotiations, the three (3) unions have been jointly engaging the Company at the negotiating table and through those discussions a number of multi-year agreements were reached.
The latest pact which regards this year only will see workers receiving pay rises between five (5) and seven (7) per cent from January 01, this year. Workers increases are based on their performance which is evaluated by the Company. The agreement provides a mechanism whereby unsatisfied workers could approach the Union and for another evaluation to be conducted to determine their performance and thus rise-in-pay. Apart from pay hikes, the Unions and the Company reached agreement on improved rates of meals allowance, overtime rates, premium rates and leave passage assistance.
The Unions and the Company commenced discussions earlier this year but these were thwarted by the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. While face-to-face engagements were hamstrung, the discussions continued which led to agreement being reached. The workers are most pleased with the agreement and look forward to receiving their retroactive payments. The GAWU, for its part, is also pleased that an agreement could be reached and looks forward to engagements a bit later with the Company as discussions begin to focus on our next agreement.
The GAWU, as a responsible union, continues to stand by and with its members in this difficult time. It continues to engage employers regarding their employees’ health and well-being at the workplace while ensuring adequate and appropriate protections are provided. We are hopeful in the coming weeks to engage other employers regarding improvements in conditions-of-work.
