Some former workers of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) on Monday protested against the management of the Commission for their alleged continued violation of the Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) between the GFC and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) ).
This was outlined by GAWU in a press release on Monday. GAWU noted that five Commission workers have been issued termination letters during 2021 and in accordance with the existing CLA between the Union and the Commission and the Guyana Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, the workers should be paid their benefits terminal.
GAWU said the GFC refused and the matter was represented to the Ministry of Labor in conciliation.
The Ministry of Labor with the letter dated May 30, 2022 has announced that workers must be paid their Terminal benefits in accordance with the Law. “The commission has since ignored the findings of the Ministry of Labour,” the union said.
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GAWU earlier this year applied for arbitration under the existing CLA, however GFC management reportedly ignored the Union’s request. “The CLA is legally enforceable and binding between the parties,” GAWU submits.
“Family, friends and children of the injured workers came out in support of the workers as justice is being delayed by a top management of a government enterprise. GAWU and the protesters demand that GFC leaders respect the existing CLA,” the Union statement further read.
