Workers receive money from De Gale

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Parent Category: Nov 2011

Category: Week ending Nov 19th, 2011

Published on Sunday, 20 November 2011 00:58

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Retrenched workers of W &M De Gale Supermarket, which closed its operations in August, have received the first part of money owed to them in severance payment.

However, the workers will have to wait another ten months to get the second and final part of the package.

Although being tight lipped about the total sum of money disbursed to the workers last week, both the management of the supermarket and the workers bargaining agent, the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) seem happy over the way the matter was finally settled.

The workers took to the streets last month to press home their demands for payment of the money owed to them since being laid off from their jobs three months ago.

According to the company’s Management, they were forced to lay off the workers due to an economic depression they were experiencing, but TAWU had threatened to take them to court.

Both parties spoke in glowing terms to members of the media last week Thursday about the agreement reached at the law office of the company’s attorney, Derick Sylvester on Lucas Street, St George’s.

TAWU’s President General, Senator Chester Humphrey described it as “a happy ending” and sought to clear the air on statements made at a previous media briefing in which he had labeled the management of W & M De Gale as being dishonest.

However, the veteran trade unionist sought to correct what was stated at that time.

He said: “Admittedly, there was a little hiccup in the relationship from that point (of the dispute), although I must say... for the number of years that the Technical and Allied Workers Union has had an industrial relationship representing the workers of W & M De Gale, the relationship was a good relationship. 

“We’ve never had any significant problems with De Gale other than for now, and this is why I described the most recent incident as a hiccup and somewhat unfortunate. However, we now have a happy ending in that the compensation which is due and owing to the workers is to be paid,” he added.

Sen. Humphrey believes that the compensation package brokered is fair and reasonable.

“ So I just want to announce that we have arrived at a comprehensive, fair and final settlement to this dispute, “ he said.

Shop Stewart, Kelvin Crowe echoed the sentiment of his union boss, indicating that the entire 24 workers are happy to receive the money, now that they are entering the Christmas Season.

Attorney-at-law for the De Gale’s, Derek Sylvester pointed out that at no time his clients wanted to violate the industrial agreement signed with TAWU, and the failure to make the payment at the time was largely due to the difficult economic and financial times the company was experiencing.

According to Sylvester, the supermarket operators have been trying to raise a particular sum of money to resolve the issue amicably but it took time.

“They have used their best efforts and they have been able to raise the first sum of money... So we’re pleased that we’ve now reached a position where all sides are extremely happy,” he said.

W & M De Gale first ventured into the supermarket business in Grenville, St. Andrew’s about 25 years ago before moving into St. George’s the last 15 years.

Sylvester said the company can now be considered as being insolvent and that the owners are now at the crossroad in determining what course of action they can now take in terms of going forward in business.

One of the owners of the supermarket, Andrew De Gale who read a statement to the media said they are happy that their names have been cleared.

“We just want to say that our name has been cleared now because there was such an accusation made in the media through the newspapers and television about our conduct, our honesty,” he said in the statement.

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