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Labour Ministry names arbitration panel Justice Prem Persaud has been mandated to chair the arbitration panel as it relates to the wages dispute between the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).Also part of the panel is Mr. Clinton Williams and Mr. James Morgan. A release from the Ministry of Labour stated that both Justice Persaud and Mr. Morgan served on a similar panel in 2001.The Labour Ministry last week wrote to the parties and advised them that the minister is imposing compulsory arbitration on the parties.The GLU and City Hall have been deadlocked over the salary increases for the GLU members for the years 2007 and 2008.It was noted that the panel will shortly commence its deliberations.Earlier in the month,Tim Krul Jersey, both parties had agreed to go to arbitration,Shinji Kagawa Dortmund Jersey, but after several meetings,Joel Campbell Jersey, they failed to agree on the composition of the arbitration panel.As such, in the interest of the workers and taking into consideration the protracted time of the impasse, Minister Nadir decided to invoke the provision of “Compulsory Arbitration” under Chapter 4 (1) (c) of the Labour Laws.The GLU had planned strike action if no intervening measure was engaged,Joshua Kimmich Germany Jersey, as General Secretary of the Union Carvil Duncan had noted that the Minister of Labour has the power under the law to demand that compulsory arbitration be engaged in the matter.Duncan had said that the Minister could also exercise his right not to intervene in the matter, leaving the situation to be dealt with at the discretion of the union.Meanwhile, a release which was issued by the municipality refuted claims that the Council seems to be taking care of staffers in managerial positions and are neglecting the lower class of workers.The release added that earlier this year the Council had negotiated increases in wages and salaries with both the GLU and the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU), which represents the workers of the municipality.“The GLGOU (which represents primarily officers of the Council) accepted the Council’s offer of 10 per cent for 2008,Andreas Pereira Manchester United Jersey, forgoing any increases in wages and salaries for its members for 2007,Gael Clichy Manchester City Jersey,” the release added.However,Giacomo Bonaventura Jersey, it was noted that the GLU rejected the 10 per cent which was offered and had stated that the workers should in fact be paid 10 per cent for 2007 and another 10 per cent for 2008.The Council, the release noted, could not afford such an increase and therefore agreed to move to conciliation. |
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