Carvil Duncan
Guyana Labour Union (GLU) General Secretary Carvil Duncan has praised the NEW GPC INC for creating a model for other businesses to follow, as regards the way workers should be treated.
Duncan told Guyana Times International last Friday that this is important to be placed on record, as the relationship between the union and the NEW GPC has grown tremendously over the years, and is likely to continue growing, based on fruitful outcomes of negotiations.
The GLU general secretary said his union represents a large number of employees working for the pharmaceutical giant. He recalled the time when negotiations were taking place with the Privitisation Unit to have the company purchased by its new owner Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop. He said at that time, Dr Ramroop had promised to try his utmost to ensure that the economic standards of workers are improved and job security is assured. This promise has been kept, he said.
Duncan stated that he has recognised that the NEW GPC has now set a record for other companies to follow, as the company takes pride in supporting its staff. He also noted that negotiations for increase in salaries and other matters never lasted for more than two to three hours and most times the demands of the union are met, and workers in general are fully satisfied.
The GLU executive said this has created a cordial relationship between the union and the NEW GPC.
“At no time did the GLU take any action against the company or had taken protest action, due to demand not being met,” Duncan asserted. He said there are cases also where the company had bent backwards to ensure workers are satisfied.
Front runner
“So we can easily say that the NEW GPC is a front runner where relationships with the union are concerned,” Duncan stated.
He listed a few unique benefits given to staffers, which include transportation from work to home. These, he said are motivational factors that had led to the warm relationship the two entities share. He reiterated that it is fair to say that the NEW GPC treats its workers kindly and with a lot of respect.
This has allowed workers to give of their best as they work towards achieving all their goals.
He said too that in instances where the company makes a good profit, staffers are not left out in the process of being equally compensated.
Further, Duncan said there has never been a complaint lodged with the union against the company, which is testimony to the respect and honour workers have in working with the NEW GPC.
“As general secretary, we are satisfied with the benefits the workers receive form NEW GPC and we are even more convinced that NEW GPC is a model company and in this regard, we plan to present a token of appreciation to the company for that.”
The standards set by the NEW GPC must be adopted by all private and public sector companies, he said.
This will only lead to better production and quality work from workers, and more income for the company.
