-voices support for union
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers union (GAWU) yesterday called on Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir to “shoulder his responsibilities” in the dispute between the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB& GWU) and the Rusal subsidiary, the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI).
In a statement issued yesterday, GAWU expressed solidarity with the union, noting that what had started out as the union’s “simple but fundamental demand for increased wages and the reinstatement of certain type of overtime pay” had blossomed “into a prolonged dispute now involving recognition, questionable terminations, union-busting and alleged violations of both local and international labour laws and conventions.”
Acting General Secretary of the GB& GWU Leslie Gonsalves told Stabroek News he was “extremely grateful” for GAWU’s support and more so since it is being publicised in the media. Gonsalves noted that GAWU has supported the bauxite union in the past, particularly during the 1970s.
Explaining that it had been hesitant to enter into the union-company impasse for a number of reasons, GAWU said that it felt compelled as “a matter of principle and solidarity” to call on the Minister of Labour “to reconsider his previous and current indifference with respect to the issue.” “GAWU agrees with those have quoted the laws which provide the Minister with the authority to intervene,” the release said. GAWU said that Section 4 of the Trade Union Recognition Act is instructive in the regard. “Of course, no company or employer has any authority to “de-recognise” a duly recognised bargaining agent; that is the sole prerogative of the country’s Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board,” the release said. The union further stated that it could not stand by when the Collective Labour Agreement is being flouted.
According to GAWU, “despite the perception by some that sugar workers are somehow a favoured lot,” this is not the case and it realises that the Labour Minister’s laxity could also affect GAWU representative workers some day.
The impasse between the GB&GWU and the BCGI dates back to last November when workers engaged in industrial action. However, subsequently, several of the workers aborted the strike and resumed working with the company.
Subsequently about 50 workers–including some senior members of the union—were dismissed by the BCGI. Union leaders have since argued that the workers who went back to work were forced to sign letters to say that they wanted the GB&GWU to be derecognized.
The union has since taken its concerns to the Trade Union Certification and Recognition Board, the Chief Labour Officer, and the Ethnic Relations Committee (ERC). Further, the union has since collaborated with several international bodies in putting together a “worldwide petition” to register its concerns with Nadir.
Last week, PNCR-1G submitted a Motion of No Confidence against Nadir to the National Assembly, saying he has failed to protect the rights of bauxite workers in the recent dispute despite having the legal power to do so.
The motion is expected to come up for debate in the National Assembly shortly.
