Workers attached to the government-owned Guyana Oil Company GUYOIL have staged industrial action over the refusal by the company to pay the workers a salary increase for this year. While the workers staged a sit-in, the pumps were still operational as managers and supervisors took on the job.
The union is demanding an 8% salary increase with the use of performance appraisals and a 5% salary increase across the board. The company said that there were some setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the year. The Company wrote to the Clerical and Commerical Union indicating to them that GUYOIL’s businesses were severely affected during the period.
Speaking with reporters, union president Sherwood Clarke said the workers are disappointed, hence the action.
Clarke said the union is open to negotiation but is not about to accept the company’s position.
At GUYOIL’s Sheriff Street location workers held plaque cards to tell their stories. Many of the workers are single parents and spoke of the hardships they have endured during this period.