Howard University Professor and former General Manager at GAIBANK, Dr. Kenrick Hunte will deliver the opening address when the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) holds its 5th Triennial Delegates Conference tomorrow at Critchlow Labour College.
Elections will also be held for a new executive council to administer the union’s business over the next three years, a GB&GWU press release stated.
The conference is being conducted under the theme “In Pursuit of Rights & The Upholding of the Laws.”
The conference comes at a time when the union is still engaged in a nine months old struggle for the respect of its members’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc, of which the Government of Guyana is a shareholding partner, the release noted.
It said further that the Ministry of Labour refuses to intervene in keeping with the labour laws.
And this is also a time, the release added, when the wider society is raising its voice against executive lawlessness, corruption, criminality and discrimination.
This year’s focus will be on these internal and external issues since labour sees them as intricately intertwined. In that light, delegates will continue to evaluate workers’ rights and the rule of law and will explore options to ensure these are upheld and respected.
Moreover, the GB&GWU will discuss the General Secretary’s Report and other housekeeping business, including the passing of motions.