Union threatens industrial action if GTT refuses to withdraw “early retirement” letters

 The Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (GPTWU) is threatening to rally its workers for industrial action if the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) refuses to withdraw a “early retirement” letter that it dispatched to some 150 employees.

GPTW President Harold Shepard the Company dispatched the letters to the employees advising them of the early retirement plan without first consulting the union.

He noted that in accordance with the Trade Union Recognition Act and Guyana’s Constitution, the company was obligated to engage the union before engaging the workers in such a “high-handed” manner.

In the letter given to the employees it was stated that workers would be allowed to “enter retirement with a one-time financial incentive.”

If workers are to answer before January 29 and accept the deal they would be give one week’s pay for every year of service not exceeding ten years and or 100% lump sum payout of current pension benefits.

GPTW has already “written to the CEO advising that the letters be withdrawn and for the company to follow the right procedure,” Shepard related.

The union sees the action as an effort on the part of GTT to do downsize its workforce and is insisting that workers be given a severance pay if such is the case.

Shepard is calling “on all stakeholders to reject the action of this transnational company that wants to get rid of highly skilled, experienced and committed employees, unceremoniously without the required compensation long before their legal retirement age.”

It said that the “company’s take on the pension plan is fear-mongering  and will not be allowed to act in such a reckless, uncaring and highhanded manner towards their long service employees.”

To seek redress on the issue, the GPTW says that there are a slew of industrial actions that can be taken and no stone will be left upturned to get justice for its workers.