The strike of workers employed at Linden Utility Services Coop Society Limited (LUSCSL) entered its third week. The Ministry of Labour is still to act to bring resolution to the grievances between the workers and the government’s installed Interim Management Committee (IMC).
The IMC was installed by acting Chief Cooperative Development Officer, Ms. Debbie Persaud.
Workers, whilst determined to hold, are saying were this strike occurring at Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) the government would have intervened already to end it.
The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), the representative of the workers, told Village Voice Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Dhaneshwar Deonarine is not moving with alacrity to bring resolution to the grievances between management and workers.
The Union wrote Utility’s General Manager, Mr. Olston Thorman on September 23 and presented the undermentioned Terms for Resumption:-
- There shall be no victimisation by either party (employee or management).
- There shall be no loss in services and benefits.
- Employees acting vacant positions shall be appointed with immediate effect.
- LUSCSL agrees to enter into negotiation for a new Collective Labour Agreement within 72-hours of full resumption.
- All outstanding grievances shall be presented to the management within forty-eight hours after resumption.
- Mr. Courtney Handy, member of the IMC, be removed with immediate effect .
- There shall be an inquiry an inquiry into the conduct of IMC since its installation
- There shall be full resumption of work within 72-hours of after the signing of the agreement.
The Union also wrote chief labour 23rd September, 2022 requesting conciliation. A meeting was convened on Monday 3rd October, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. between the general manager and union where the workers’ conditions for return to work was presented.
The general manager advised the meeting he has to return to the IMC or CCDO before agreement could be made.
The general manager was expected to have returned with a response on Monday or Tuesday. In a statement issued by the Union on Wednesday, they said while they spoke with the General Manager he has not returned with anything definitive.
The workers remain on strike.
The Union’s President, Charles Sampson said in all his years of trade unionism it has never taken this long before engagement between the parties (Union and Management) and attributes the inaction to the government’s attempt to destroy the cooperative society and the members’ investment.
Linden/Region 10 said Sampson has always been the target of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic vindictiveness.
