The Bank And General Workers Union (BGWU) has written to Republic Bank asking that it immediately suspend its revised Workplace Safety Guidelines which took effect January 3, this year.
Much hinges on the current COVID-19 situation.
The Union is complaining that several sections of the Workplace Policy appear discriminatory and threatens the very economic survival of the employees, who gave many years of service and made selfless and dedicated sacrifices to the Bank over the years.
It speaks of the part of the guidelines which require mandatory PCR fortnightly Testing for unvaccinated workers and that it will cause tremendous difficulties for workers, since they are unable to bear the cost of such Test.
The BGWU expresses disappointment with what it says is the Republic Bank Grenada Limited’s unwillingness to engage the Union on its revised Workplace Safety Guidelines relative to Covid -l9, after it provided alternative recommendations to address infractions, with the view that both sides will work together in fighting the common enemy.
Despite its best efforts to maintain good industrial relations, the BGWU complains that the Bank went ahead and implemented a revised version of the Safety Guidelines containing some of the infractions identified by the Union previously.
The Union calls for the immediate suspension of the Bank’s Workplace Safety Guidelines, and in particular, its intention to implement mandatory PCR Testing by January 17th, 2022, for unvaccinated workers, which it says is not in the interest of all parties.
The BGWU says continued dialogue and engagement will avoid an escalation of the industrial climate.
