The Chief Labor Officer criticizes industrial action by Guyoil workers
Views from Guyoil Sheriff Street Gas Station on Wednesday.
Kaieteur News – Guyana’s Chief Labor Officer Charles Ogle argues that the Guyoil workers who took industrial action over their bonuses and pay rises on Wednesday violated protocols.
On Wednesday, about 300 employees of the company decided to strike after they were told that no bonuses and pay increases will be paid for the year. This was despite an agreement made by the company this year to pay employees their bonuses and give an eight per cent pay rise.
However, some showed the gas stations to participate in sit-in sessions while some were out with placards demanding their bonuses and increases. The industrial action was supported by the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU). The president of the CCWU, Sherwood Clarke, was quoted as saying that the previous board company had agreed to pay pay increases based on a performance appraisal system, but the current administration set a new board and withdrew that agreement.
Ogle spoke to another section of the media, where he claimed their strike violated labor protocols and laws. He said the CCW should make managers aware when workers want to take part in industrial action, but it has not.
“We had a meeting… and we are in a situation right now, the company is offering nothing and the Union is asking for something… I wrote the union for them to come in… they didn’t inform me or they didn’t inform the management . The union says it’s sitting in and management says it’s a strike, “said the Chief Labor Officer.
He further said he told CCWU President Sherwood Clarke on Monday to postpone any strike since the Labor Ministry was brought into the matter and that it was working on a solution. Clarke was still deciding to take industrial action despite the intervention of the Ministry of Labor, according to Ogle.
“I checked with them and I’m monitoring the situation. I even checked with the parties to see if there have been any moves, is the Union reducing their offer or is the company offering something because if the parties are not moving then there is no way we can solve the problem, ”Ogle was quoted as saying.
Kaieteur News understands that the CCWU and Guyoil have been negotiating since July this year to get their employee benefits.
It was reported that, in light of the strikes, managers in some locations have threatened fire workers if they are not working or will replace people with pending applications in the company system.