Union appreciative of efforts of Ministry of Labour
An almost five (5) year absence of face-to-face engagements between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) will expectedly come to an end when the parties resume discussions on September 09, 2021. The DTL in latter 2016 decided to refuse to engage the GAWU in face-to-face discussions opting to limit engagements with the Union to writing. Our Union contended that the Company’s actions were inimical to good relations and undermined the principles of Collective Bargaining. We also pointed out that the DTL’s decision contravened the Constitution of Guyana, the Trade Union Recognition Act and the Recognition and Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement subsisting between the GAWU and the DTL.
Following the Company’s arbitrary decision, the GAWU had sought the intervention of the former Department of Labour, now Ministry of Labour, to seek that the DTL comply with its lawful obligations to engage. Since then, to now, many attempts were made to have the DTL resume face-to-face discussions with the GAWU. Dismayingly, the DTL remained unmoved and held adamantly to its position.
The GAWU soon after the re-establishment of the Ministry of Labour, following the swearing in of the Irfaan Ali Government, engaged the then newly appointed Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton on the matter. The Minister, at that time, was visibly disturbed to learn of the state-of-affairs and promised to do his utmost to bring about a resolution. Our Union also engaged Dr N.K. Gopaul, Chairman of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) on the matter. Both the Minister and his Ministry as well as the TURCB began to address the matter in earnest. During the intervening period, the Ministry and the Minister would have engaged the DTL on its reluctance to engage the GAWU on a face-to-face basis. The Minister, the Ministry and the TURCB were quite adamant that the DTL was required to engage the GAWU and could not seek to limit such engagements to writing.
The Ministry of Labour, under the chairmanship of the Chief Labour Officer on August 31, 2021, convened a meeting with the GAWU and the DTL. At that meeting, the Ministry, through the Chief Labour Officer, reiterated its position. After some discussion, the DTL relented and agreed to meet the GAWU on a face-to-face basis. Our Union remains hopeful that we can turn a new leaf and restore the once generally cordial and respectful relations between the Union and the Company. We, at this time, will dispatch to the Company, once again, the list of matters we seek to discuss at our September 09, 2021 meeting and look forward to a fruitful meeting.
The GAWU, at this time, wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton; Chief Labour Officer, Dhanehwar Deonarine and other officials of the Ministry. We also wish to thank the TURCB and particularly its Chairman, Dr N.K. Gopaul for their efforts.
