The Ministry of Labour is still to form a tribunal to resolve the year-long wage dispute between the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).
Last month Chief Labour officer, Mohamed Akeel had announced that an arbitration panel was to be established by the ministry shortly. Since then only two persons asked to serve on the panel have consented while a third is currently unavailable.
Akeel told Stabroek News yesterday that the third man who is being sought is out of the country. He said the ministry has been patient since he was selected by the union and to avoid any ill feeling the ministry is prepared to wait on him. Akeel said the ministry is eager to get along with the proceedings, adding that it is hoping to wrap up everything in six weeks time.
NAACIE had led its workers, some 15% of the total corporation’s staff, on a strike a few weeks ago protesting the corporation’s reluctance to pay a proposed increase in wages/salaries of 38% across-the-board and a 3%-9% increase in merit increments. The strike action crippled operations at the sugar estates but the union subsequently called off the strike after the Ministry of Labour enforced compulsory arbitration.
Akeel had earlier made a proposal to NAACIE and GUYSUCO for them to negotiate a three-year salaries package. Industrial Relations Director of GUYSUCO, Jairam Petam told this newspaper that since the strike was called off there had been a full resumption of work.
Petam said his corporation has indicated its willingness to consider the three-year wages/ salaries proposal that was made to them by Akeel and even though there had been other issues with regards to the industrial unrest GUYSUCO would be guided by the ministry’s ruling. General President of NAACIE, Kenneth Joseph said his union welcomed the decision taken by the Ministry of Labour and hoped the matter would be resolved soon.