Airtel and STGWU sign recognition agreements |08 November 2008

The two sides signed the representational status and the check-off agreements during a ceremony at Airtel’s Providence office on Thursday.

Secretary general of the STGWU Antoine Robinson and Airtel’s head of human resources Maria Malow signed the agreements, which are in line with the Industrial Relations Act 1993.

The Act requires an employer to recognise a union after 10 or more of its employees have registered and accepted that the union can bargain and negotiate labour issues with their employer.

The representational status agreement indicates the employer has accepted the union, while the check-off agreement allows the employer to deduct 1% off the worker’s basic salary as the union’s membership fee.

The agreement signing followed several long and detailed discussions between STGWU and Airtel after more than 10 staff registered with the union.

Mr Robinson described the move as a positive sign in industrial relations between the two sides and said they are looking forward to a positive working relationship which will be in the interests of both the employer and employees as well as the country’s productivity.

He said it is very important to have good dialogue, and employees should organise themselves to interact with their employers, especially now that the government is adopting the role of arranger and handing over more of the economy to the private sector. This is where the union comes in, he added.

Ms Malow said Airtel sees the agreements as a positive move. She added that the STGWU will help the company perform better and improve discipline and other work-related areas that will bring benefits.