Striking brewery workers clash with riot police — St. George’s, Grenada

Riot police clashed with striking workers at the Grenada Breweries Limited (GBL) who had been blocking the entrance to the compound in a bid to prevent delivery vehicles from exiting the facility.

Eyewitnesses said the police officers broke through a barrier erected by the workers who had been blocking the compound since Tuesday following the arrest of the President of the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU), Chester Humphrey.

Humphrey, who has been released on EC $3,000 (US$1, 111) bail, is due to appear in court here on January 25.

“Senator Humphrey has not broken any laws of the country. All Senator Humphrey did was tried to prevent the trucks from leaving the compound, Senator Humphrey did not obstruct traffic on the main road, “ said Madonna Harford, President of the Grenada Trade Union Congress m(GTUC).

The workers have been joined in their protest action by .employees from several other public and private sector enterprises including the National Water and Sewerage Authority (NWSA) and the Grenada Electricity Company (GRENLEC).

GBL workers are demanding a seven per cent salary increase, but the company, which is part of the Trinidad-based regional conglomerate Ana McAL, is offering a 2.7 per cent wage hike.

The group’s chairman and chief executive officer Andrew Sabga is due here on Friday for talks with the union on the new wage agreement.

http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=68956