GPL not accepting blame for stalled remuneration talks with GPSU

Dec 16, 2015 News

A blame game has started between Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), with each insisting that the other is responsible for a breakdown in negotiations regarding an increase in remunerations to junior and senior management of the power company.
GPSU at a press conference told media operatives that the power company has not fully embraced multi-year proposals submitted for increases in salaries for employees within the Union’s bargaining Unit.
According to GPSU’s spokesperson, First Vice President, Mortimer Livan, at a press conference on Monday, GPL had opted to have discussions on only a few aspects of the proposals. He added that “the management of GPL procrastinated in dealing with the proposals. It has come again to the end of the year and still this matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the employees.”
He had contended too, that the GPL since 2013 has only met with the Union in November of this year and according to him too, “the main contention is the dollars amount.”
But GPL yesterday refuted claims by GPSU that it has caused undue delay in the 2015 remuneration for the workers.
In a statement disseminated yesterday, the GPL said that it categorically refutes the claims of the GPSU in negotiations for increase in salary and allowances for the year 2015. The power company explained that “On November 16, 2015, GPL formally invited the GPSU to begin negotiations on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, following on advice received from the Ministry of Finance on the applicability of the five per cent and the $5,000 salary increase announced earlier by the Government.”
At this meeting it was noted that GPL made an offer of a five percent salary increase (inclusive of two per cent across-the-board and a three per cent in-scale increment) and a $10,000 monthly ($120,000 for 2015) as a one-off payment, both with effect from January 1, 2015.
GPL also claimed that it proposed an increase in the mileage allowance for use of personal vehicles from $135 to $150 per mile and an increase of $100 in meal allowance for overtime work, both also with effect from January 1, 2015.
But according to GPL, the GPSU responded to the Company’s offer by requesting a five per cent across-the-board increase, a $200,000 ($16,660 per month) to be included in salaries for 2015, an increase in the meal allowance by $500 and a mileage allowance of $220 per month.
It was noted that the Union then wrote to GPL on November 30, 2015, rejecting the Company’s offer and proposed a five per cent across-the-board increase and requested that the Company’s offer of $120,000 for 2015, be added to the current annual salary with effect from January 1, 2015.
“On December 8, 2015 the Company revised its offer, accepting the Union‘s proposal for the five per cent increase and restating its offer of a $120,000 one-off payment, along with its initial offer of increases in meal and mileage allowances,” GPL indicated in its statement.
But according to the power company, “Regrettably, to date, the Union has yet to formally respond to GPL’s revised offer.”
The total cost of the Union’s current proposals for 2015, according to Livan, “is a mere fraction of the $27 million the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer siphoned off to his personal accounts claiming to be back payment for increases in his salaries and allowances”.
Stressing the income disparity between GPL’s executive staff and the junior and senior management categories, Livan noted that GPSU is hopeful that this will be adjusted urgently.
“The Union wishes to emphasise the pivotal role being played by the employees of the GPL and of the need for urgent attention to be given to improving their remuneration,” said Livan as he pointed out that “GPL is the only state-run entity whose employees have not benefited from any increase in remuneration for 2015.”
According to Livan, the GPSU in an effort to stress its disappointment with the GPL’s “callous” attitude has since written to Minister with responsibility for the power company, David Patterson, to intervene, in hopes of having an amicable resolution.
Minister Patterson has however not acknowledged the GPSU’s correspondence of December 7, 2015, Livan stated, a state of affairs that is of much concern to the Union, he added.
Moreover, the Union is slated to meet with its members today in order to plot the way forward, which, according to Livan, could include industrial action.