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Dear Editor
On December 23, 2020 400 employees made a conscious decision to call a sit-in exercise in form of an industrial action country-wide. They are seriously sending a strong message to the management about their rights. What was shocking the nightly newscast clips show as well as other media houses the women workers were thrown out of company compound at Kitty location. We call on all right-thinking people to condemn the act.
The Human Resources Manager of the Guyana Oil Company behavioural patterns should not be allowed in a state-owed company. We see and welcome new initiatives by the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Honourable Vindhya Persaud wjo recently launched 914 hotlines. The Ministry of Labour advocacy through the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 Concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. Adopted by the conference at its one hundred and eighth session, Geneva, 21 June 2019.
I Refer Article (11) “ Each Member, in consultation with representative employers’ and workers’ organisations, shall seek to ensure that: (a) violence and harassment in the world of work are addressed in relevant national policies, such as those concerning occupational safety and health, equality and non-discrimination, and migration; (b) employers, workers and relevant authorities, are provided with guidance, resources, training or other tools, in accessible formats as appropriate, on violence and harassment in the world of work, including on gender-based violence and harassment; and (C) initiatives, including awareness-raising campaigns and undertaken”.
Article ( 12 ) “ The provisions of this Convention shall be applied using national laws and regulations, as well as through collective agreements or other measures consistent with a national practice, including by extending or adapting existing occupational safety and health measures to cover violence and harassment and developing specific measures where necessary”.
The Guyana Oil Company Limited, Disciplinary Procedures Manual speaks to any employee who committed infractions referred to Section Violence/Assault/ Abuse/ Harassment ( M ) “An employee who exhibits abusive behaviour or issues threats of violence to an employee/s or customer”. The Company should be able to hold every employee accountable for their behaviour.
The Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union ( CCWU) is urging the Management of the Guyana Oil Company Limited with whom they do business to respect Women and Workers’ Rights. The CCWU intends to go on an offensive against the management who believes that the time is ripe to ignore Collective Labour Agreements signed on behalf of the workers. General President of the CCWU, Sherwood Clarke observed that of late the management of the Guyana Oil Company Limited is moving to change working conditions agreed to without any recourse to the Union. There seems to be a calculated move by the management to drive fear into workers by insisting that they must do what the management requires although the direction contravenes the Collective Labour Agreement ( CLA). This approach conflicts with ILO Conventions and Recommendations.
The CCWU is not going to sit idly by and allow Labour Agreements to be thrown aside by the Company. Labour Agreements set out the rights of both the management and the Union must be respected. The management of the Guyana Oil Company Limited who do not respect Women and Workers’ Rights can expect a confrontation with the CCWU. We are a responsible Union and take pride in that. We will give our members the kind of representation that they deserve.
Yours sincerely,
Sherwood Clarke
General President
CCWU
