GAWU disappointed over sacked 60 employees of Wales fired by NICIL

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) earlier
today expressed its disappointment over the actions taken by state-
owned holding company – NICIL. NICIL on December 31, 2020 fired,
without any hint of warning, some sixty workers who were employed
by the company at Wales Estate according to a Press Release issued
by GAWU. The Union stressed that the workers were mainly engaged in providing
security as well as other labouring tasks.

GAWU said, “The sudden termination dumbfounded the workers who were completely
unprepared for the bombshell announcement.” GAWU went on to state that the
dismissed workers, had approached GAWU to speak on their behalf last year. However,
on November 06, 2020 the Union had applied to the Trade Union Recognition and
Certification Board (TURCB) seeking to be recognised as their bargaining agent.

“Following receipt of our application, the TURCB approved the conduct of a survey, in keeping
with the Trade Union Recognition Act. The survey sought to determine whether the GAWU
enjoyed the workers’ support. Attempts to commence the survey were short-circuited by the
NICIL which, on two (2) occasions, did not turn up for meetings organized by the TURCB to
commence the process. Subsequently, NICIL, by letter of December 11, 2020, wrote the TURCB
seeking to commence the process, strikingly, on December 31, 2020. The Board, having
considered the letter, had acquiesced to the request”, GAWU’s release stated.

The Trade Union GAWU expressed dismay and disappointment at the decision by the state-
owned National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited to dismiss the workers.

It reported that earlier today, it wrote TURCB Chairman, Dr N.K. Gopaul to apprise him of the
developments.

The Union went on to state through their release, “In our correspondence, we pointed out that the
actions of the NICIL are in grave contravention of the Trade Union Recognition Act ….and we
sought the Board’s immediate intervention to apprehend the matter and ensure that the workers

rights are upheld.” It Union in its release continued, “For the workers, given the depression that
has gripped Wales since the estate was closed at the end of 2016, it represented a cherished
source of sustenance. We are aware of the efforts of the incumbent Administration as they seek
to breathe life back into the former estate communities and the actions of the state-owned
holding company, in our view, serves to gravely undermine those efforts.”

GAWU concluded by reiterating that it finds the actions of NICIL to be deeply disturbing.