ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Nov 21 –Port workers are due to return to their jobs on Monday after the government announced late Sunday that an agreement had been reached between the Grenada Ports Authority (GPA) and the Grenada Technical & Allied Workers Union (GTAWU).
A statement issued by the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs said that the two parties had “reached a settlement of the dispute that resulted in workers at Port St. George taking industrial strike action over the past week.
It said the parties arrived at a negotiated settlement facilitated by Minister for Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs & Attorney General. Claudette Joseph; and Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Valerie Thomas.
“The highly anticipated resolution should see all workers immediately return to work and the speedy restoration of services at the Port.”
Labour Minister Joseph expressed gratitude to the parties for their cooperation and earnest effort in working towards an amicable resolution of the matter.
But she noted that it was unfortunate the dispute escalated to the most extreme form of industrial action as a first response and before the dispute resolution mechanism contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the parties was triggered.
“Premature and extreme industrial action does not promote good industrial relations. It negatively affects the prospect of amicable settlement of the dispute and creates unnecessary financial hardship on ordinary people,” Joseph said.
The statement said the government thanks the public, especially those directly impacted by the events, for your patience and understanding.
The workers took industrial action last week following the termination of an employee accused by the management of the port of breaching procedures in executing her duties. She received her termination letter on Friday, Nov 11, 2022.
GPA said that the action it took was in keeping with the collective bargaining agreement.
In a statement, it said that through a routine audit, irregularities were identified, and after a thorough investigation involving law enforcement, the findings showed that both the Port and the Government of Grenada were negatively impacted in its revenue.
The next step was an internal hearing between the management, the worker, and the GTAWU, and it was agreed that the breach of procedure was considered a summary offense under the collective bargaining agreement. It was then that a decision was made to terminate the service of the employee.
Shipping agencies in Grenada reported that goods importation and exportation were being affected by industrial action. Vessels were unable to enter the harbor because the port pilots had joined the workers in the industrial action.
The government statement on Sunday gave no indication as to whether or not the employee had been re-instated.
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