NAACIE voices concern over pace of Arbitration request

NAACIE voices concern over pace of Arbitration request
Guyana Chronicle
May 20, 2002

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THE National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) has expressed concern that more than six months have passed since the Union requested Arbitration with the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GUYSUCO). NAACIE said that the Arbitration request was in respect of wages and salaries and merit increments for workers for the year 2001. The Corporation, the union said, has been using every conceivable avenue to thwart the process.

In a release issued on Thursday, May 17, 2002, NAACIE said it had been encouraged during the early stages of the discussions, by the assurance given by GUYSUCO that it would adhere to the existing procedural agreement between the parties. The Corporation had said then that it expected the Union to do likewise.

“The Union and the Corporation had initially agreed on the Terms of Reference to the Tribunal, under the chairmanship of the Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Mohamed Akeel. There was disagreement over the composition of the Tribunal and the Arbitrators. In an effort not to further delay the process, which seemed to be the strategy of GUYSUCO, the NAACIE reluctantly agreed to the composition of the Tribunal, a three-man panel, and to two of the names submitted by GUYSUCO. The Union was led to believe that this would have paved the way for the Tribunal to commence its work,” the statement said.

“However, to the astonishment of the Union, GUYSUCO reneged on the Terms of Reference, requesting that some extraneous matters be included and then called for the submission of a new list of names of Arbitrators.

“The Union considered the attitude being displayed by the Corporation on this matter as being very unprofessional and is indicative of their unwillingness to have the dispute addressed at the Level of Arbitration. The Union, in the circumstances has been exercising a considerable degree of restraint over the past months, in its effort to exhaust the grievance procedure. Its membership, however, is being provoked into a position of restlessness given the uncompromising posture adopted by GUYSUCO.

“The NAACIE is committed to following laid down procedures, but, we equally expect the employer to follow suit. GUYSUCO’s posture on this matter could only serve to be counter-productive. It is hoped that good sense would prevail on the part of GUYSUCO.

“The Union is appreciative of the efforts being made by the Deputy Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Dhanraj Sookhdeo, to facilitate the Arbitration process,” the statement concluded.