| The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has criticized the “ill-advised” decision of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) to abort a sensitive meeting last Tuesday with the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) – an affiliate– to discuss the long-delayed salary hikes for power company employees this year.“The Federation understands that NAACIE went to attend the meeting with two members of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) as advisors,Wholesale Jerseys Authentic, and that was the sole reason for GPL to walk away from the meeting which the employees of the most important utility company in the country, eagerly want to take place with a view to having the union’s wage/salary claim settled with the employer.”FITUG said that counterpart employees of GPL in the public service are to receive five and eight per cent wage/salary increases retroactive to January 01, 2014 in keeping with the recent decision of the Government.“In negotiations, at whatever forum, any team has the inalienable right to decide on its team composition, including its chosen advisors as was the case of NAACIE at the scheduled NAACIE/GPL meeting on December 09, 2014.”FITUG said it believes such an insignificant matter which has so far prevented NAACIE and GPL from meeting, could trigger unnecessary industrial action by the employees of the company.”FITUG takes the opportunity to call upon the GPL to return to the bargaining table without any pre-condition with respect to the composition of the union’s delegation.”GPL announced this week that it has separate labour agreements with both GPSU and NAACIE workers. It wanted to meet separately with the unions for negotiations. However, the unions insist that they both be present.The negotiations for wages would come amidst the backdrop of the Christmas holidays. |
