Calm returns to concession districts in Grand Kru County following weeks of strike against management of Golden Veroleum-Liberia (GVL)
Photo Credit: MIA
Barclayville, Grand Kru County, September 1, 2019: Calm has returned to concession districts in Grand Kru County as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Honorable Varney A. Sirleaf over the weekend resolved stand-off between Management and workers of Golden Veroleum-Liberia (GVL)
The concession districts are Garaway, Wedabo and Sorroken.
A release from the Ministry of Internal Affairs said normal operations of the company will resume Monday, September 2nd following weeks of paralysis.
In recent weeks, the company has been hit with indefinite strike action by workers, thus paralyzing operations and destroying palm fruits which are harvested on a daily basis. GVL Management says the obstructions have cost them thousands of dollars in loss.
Over one thousand two hundred workers will resume normal operations this Monday September 2nd following days of intensive intervention between them and their top management.
The workers in mid-August laid down their tools for what they termed as the company’s failure to address some unsettled demands.
A joint mission of the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Labor, headed by the Internal Affairs Ministry Boss visited Sorroken where the dialogues were held. The GVL Management and workers among other things agreed to improve their relations and that the company assured government to meet the demands of workers which were categorized into segments namely immediate, medium and long terms.
Grand Kru County Superintendent Madam Doris Ylatun who was instrumental in resolving the stand-off praised Minister Sirleaf and team for the intervention. Madam Ylatun believes that with the direct involvement of government, the workers’ concerns will now be adequately addressed.
GVL’s Chief Executive Office Mr. Ferdy Surya Handojo and Vice President Elvis Morris who headed the Management assured the company’s renewed commitment to the workers, communities of Grand Kru and Government.
The press release named the spokesperson of the aggrieved workers during the discussions to include Mattehw S. Tweh, Jr, Quiah Wolo, Theophilus Gippley, Tetee A. Diggs and Darius D. Doe, among others. They assured the company of cordial working relationships with management.
For his part, Assistant Labor Minister for Regional Labor Affairs, Honorable Wilson Dumoe said his Ministry remains committed to ensure labor related demands are met consistent with laws, however warning that the company is operating under law, therefore it will not be subjected to illegal strike actions.