Republic Bank challenging recognition of union

Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has mounted a legal challenge against the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board’s (TURCB) approval of the Guyana Civil Servants and General Workers Union (GCS&GWU) as the representative body of the institution’s non-management employees.

The GCS&GWU received approval from the TURCB on December 15, 2021 to represent all non-management workers of the Bank. The Union then wrote to the financial institution on December 30, 2021, seeking a meeting within five working days. It explained that the meeting is to discuss and address a collective labour agreement.

“The Union however, is concerned, since to date, it has not received a response from Republic Bank…under the prevailing circumstances, it appears that Republic Bank is deliberately trying to stall the process by not meeting with the legally recognized union to commence discussions towards the drafting of a Collective Labour Agreement,”

the GCS&GWU said in a statement on Wednesday night.

The Union accused the Bank of breaching Section 23 (1) and (3) of the Trade Union Recognition Act, Chapter 98:07 which states “Where a trade union obtains a Certificate of recognition for workers comprised in a bargaining unit in accordance with this Part, the employer SHALL recognize the union, and the union and the employer SHALL bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with each other for the purpose of collective bargaining. (3)An employer who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of twenty-eight thousand dollars and in addition, to a fine of five hundred for every day the breach continues until the employer has complied with such provisions.”

When contacted, Republic Bank’s Marketing and Communications Manager Michelle Johnson told Stabroek News that the issue is sub judice and the Bank cannot offer a comment. She however, did say that there were some matters the TURCB failed to address prior to recognizing the Union as the bargaining representative of the Bank’s employees.

“Following receipt of the Certificate of Recognition from the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board, Republic Bank instituted legal proceedings to address some important matters that were not dealt with by the Board prior to its issuance of the recognition certification. Consequently, as this matter is now deemed sub judice, the Bank is unable to provide responses to the questions raised,” Johnson said via an email response to Stabroek News’ questions.

While accusing the Bank of stalling a much needed meeting, the GCS&GWU also urged Republic Bank to respect the employees’ right to Freedom of Association as enshrined in the Constitution while calling for them to come to the bargaining table.