Workers’ union promises ‘rigid’ action against GTT

GUYANA - Following the announcement that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company will be laying off about 120 of its employees over the next 12 months, the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU) – which represents the majority of the workers – has committed to take ‘rigid’ action to protect the interests of its members. This assertion was made by General Secretary of the Union, Eslyn Harris, who did not go into detail as to what specific action the Union will take in light of the pronouncement by the company.

Harris was at the time addressing members of the GPTWU yesterday at a meeting held at the union’s East Street Headquarters. Union president Harold Shepherd was also present.

According to the GeneralSecretary, the excuse given by the company to ‘reorganize’ operations would take workers along a certain path. However, she recalled that some time last year there was talk about ‘re-designation,’ starting with employees of the call centre. Harris said that reorganization encompasses a holistic approach. According to her, the company “cannot reorganize the floor employees and not the management”. Additionally, she said that the company went about informing employees of the move in the wrong way, violating common industrial relations protocol. The company had apparently sent out an email to all its employees informing them of the changes to take place. According to Shepherd, the union learnt of GT&T’s move through the media last Wednesday. The union president said that the announcement can impact any of the over 700 workers which the company employs.

The company had justified the move by saying that positions are becoming redundant. According to Shepherd, employees do not become redundant, rather the positions become redundant. Thus far, six employees have been laid off.

(kaieteurnews.com)