Grenada's three-week old government of new Prime Minister, Tillman Thomas has been forced to intervene to try and settle a potentially explosive industrial dispute between hardline trade unionist, Chester Humphrey and the island's sole power company.
Humphrey's Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) effected a work stoppage on Monday at the Grenada Electricity Services (GRENLEC) over demands for a 7.5% salary increase.
As Grenadians showed up for work at the start of the week, several GRENLEC employees could be seen participating in quiet protest action outside the company's main office on Halifax Street in St George clad in their red union jerseys and others in the official company uniform.
Acting Prime Minister, Denis Lett and Labour Minister, Glynis Roberts have appealed to the striking workers to return on the job.
Humphrey and officials of the Ministry of Labour met on Monday and Tuesday to find an amicable solution to the problem.
The TAWU boss warned that if GRENLEC failed to meet the demands of the workers then a full-blown strike is a possibility.
A few days earlier, employees at GRENLEC's power plant at Queen's Park engaged in go-slow action to express their dissatisfaction with the manner in which a job evaluation exercise was done.
The company's Communications Specialist, Zara Chase described the action of the workers as a very unexpected turn of events, since discussions were ongoing in relation to the implementation of the results of the job evaluation exercise.
According to Chase, the evaluation had already been completed in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement signed for the three year period, 2006 to 2008, and presented in March 2008.
She said that the contract between the two parties explicitly states that the results of the Job evaluation would be binding on both parties.
In addition, it stipulates that implementation should commence within three weeks after its presentation.
Chase suggested that the union failed to honour its commitment despite protracted discussions and clarification by GRENLEC and the consultant on problems related to the job evaluation.
She said that GRENLEC had kept all staff members updated on the progress of the discussions since the company had accepted the results of the Job Evaluation and was awaiting acceptance of the results by TAWU itself.
Speculation is rife that the 7.5% increase being requesting for the workers by TAWU was not included in the signed agreement.
Chase said that what TAWU is asking for is the re-opening of the agreement.
The Communication's Specialist said that GRENLEC met with TAWU officials on July 18 and 21 and the consultant clarified the concerns raised by the Union and promised to communicate by the next day in writing its decision of the job evaluation exercise.
Last week Tuesday, GRENLEC reportedly received a call from TAWU's boss indicating that he had to leave the Island before preparing the communication but would do so as soon as he returned.
