GPL, NAACIE to meet tomorrow on salary increases for workers

GINA, Guyana, Monday, December 19, 2016

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light Company Incorporated (GPL Inc.), Renford Homer said that the company’s workers who earlier today ‘agitated’ returned to work this afternoon.

Homer told media operatives that GPL Inc. and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE)  are currently in negotiations in relation to wages and salaries for 2016.

The acting CEO explained that NAACIE has expectations for its members and rightfully so, and GPL Inc. has a position which is being just and fair.

“So GPL went in with their position which the union has some difficulty accepting, as unions do, with all respect to the unions , (then) GPL further improved its offer and  the union still did not accept, which led to a stronger standing position by the union and one to an extent by GPL,” Homer said.

This development caused some expectations by the workers and understandably so, Homer contended. He noted that the workers want to see something tangible coming to them by way of wages. Homer said that after they did not see this, it led to some agitation on the workers’ part, thus resulting in some groups not deciding to do any work during the course of this morning.

The acting CEO said that at the Management and Board Level, the message about the strike was ventilated to the union and GPL is going back to the union with an improved position.

“We have had dialogue with the General Secretary of NAACIE and we are meant to meet tomorrow to have these further discussions. We are hopeful that we can bring this to conclusion,”Homer said.

The Acting CEO was asked, what are his expectations for the meeting tomorrow to which he  responded, “Once we have this engagement tomorrow with the union, our expectation is to see amicable conclusion in salary and wages’ negotiations between GPL and NAACIE. We can do it before the end of the year; we can close off  2016 to those members paying them whatever the approved rates are, retroactive to January next year.”

 

By: Gabreila Patram