Philipsburg:--- After a lengthy meeting with GEBE the President of the United Federation Union Francis Olivachi has refused to sign any other protocol with the utility company. The meeting was held on Monday afternoon after workers of the company protested in the parking lot demanding monies they say is long overdue.
The UFA has since dispatched another letter to the Board of Directors asking for a meeting with them while they informed GEBE management team in the person of Managing Director William Brooks they must pay all employees their 5% that is owed to them. Olivachi said the 5% represents 3% penalty for the lack of the appraisal system and 2% their cost of living adjustment.
Olivachi said when the UFA met with GEBE management team they brought forward two documents for the union to sign and the two documents are contradicting each other. The UFA president further explained that the union will not be signing any more documents and or agreements with GEBE regarding the 5% since they already have a standing agreement which is still valid. He said the only thing that can change their agreement is another Collective Labor Agreement and the union will not be negotiating unless the workers are paid in full. The union is calling on GEBE to pay its workers for the past three years that they owed them.
Advisor to the UFA Willy Haize said the union will not be signing anymore documents and GEBE must pay the workers in full before April 15. Haize said GEBE management is claiming they have an appraisal system in place and they have requested a copy of it since the union does not have any such thing in their possession. Haize said if GEBE has this appraisal system then it is not hard for them to provide the union with the copies.
Haize said if leading utility company does not comply then the union will move to plan B while GEBE can go to court if they want to go through that route.
