GBC/GTV workers support proposed merger
Guyana Chronicle
January 24, 2004
WORKERS of the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and Guyana Television Corporation (GTV) yesterday expressed general support for the proposed merger that aims at evolving radio and television into a single entity.
A spokesman for the two companies spoke after the Privatization Unit had separate meetings with the employees of at GBC and GTV.
According to the spokesman, the two companies' 170 employees were generally supportive of the proposal, which aims to reduce operational costs, increase revenue earnings, improve broadcast delivery and give listeners and viewers a wider variety of top-quality programme options.
The merger is set for February 28 next, at which time the assets and liabilities of the two entities will be transferred to a new company.
An agreement by the Government and the Clerical and Commercial Workers' Union (CCWU), which represents 111 of GBC and GTV workers, will result in severance letters being issued to the workers next week.
The new company will then advertise 133 vacancies.
A statement from the Privatization Unit says "Government is not looking to change the CCWU and will seek to flow through the CCWU as the bargaining agent and sign a new CLA at the end of the transition period, which shall enshrine the new organization details, and provide for a pension plan and medical scheme for all employees.
"GTV/GBC/and the new entity will seek to maintain working relations with the CCWU during the period preceding the merger and thereafter."