–provided rules adhered to
Provided that its concerns are legitimately attended to, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) has agreed to participate in any poll at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI).
In a press release, the GB&GWU said it met representatives of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board recently, at the board’s invitation to work out the modalities to conduct a poll “for continued certification of the bargaining unit.” The BCGI was also represented at the meeting.
The union communicated to the board that in principal it is not objecting to the activation of “poll for continued certification,” as per Section 31 of the Recognition Act. However, it said in order for such a process to proceed, the board and the parties involved are bound by universal principles, procedures, practices and laws to adhere to the due process. In this regard, the union stated that it is seeking clarification in several areas, including whether the board investigated a written complaint which was presented to it January 12 this year; whether the board in considering the request for de-recognition, addressed the April 2008 Collective Labour Agreement signed between the union and the BCGI, which prescribes how an employee becomes a member and how s/he ceases to be; and whether the board has checked the rules of the union and its records to verify whether the names that purportedly appeared on the list in its possession are due-paying members of the union.
The union said it is interested in finding a solution to the issues but there must be due process and taking on board all the charges presented. In this vein, it has advised the board’s representatives that legality must ultimately influence their action(s) and decisions and to this end, the union shall participate in any poll at BCGI with the Recognition Act. The union added that it remained committed to a resolution and it awaits the board’s response, noting that “this battle has been long and arduous.”