Georgetown: Hundreds of Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) personnels countrywide strike today as talks between the National Association of Agricultural Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and management of the power company battled over wage increase.
The union wants GPL to respect the bargaining agreement and to pay a three percent increase to the workers for 2012 and 2013 retroactive from January 1 of 2012. They are also asking for the increment increase for 2012 and 2013 to be paid.
Hundreds of workers downed tools as linesmen, clerical and commercial staff, poles men and transmission and distribution staff countrywide decided to strike.
General Secretary of NAACIE, Kenneth Joseph said strike action will continue until the state-owned power company satisfies the demands of the Union.
He further said workers with NAACIE membership at all the stations will also be striking.
Joseph said five percent all inclusive package increases Government gives to public servants annually should mirror the country’s inflation rate and in Guyana’s case in 2011 the inflation rate was 4.5 percent, as such, one percent increase is unacceptable.
Also in Berbice there is also the underlying fear if crucial staff from the two main generating facilities in Berbice Will shut off the machinery and plunge East and West Berbice into blackouts.
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