Dear Editor,
The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) applauds the workers of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and their union, the National Associa-tion of Agricultural, Commer-cial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), for the just concluded Arbitration Award. This is a moment to pause and acknowledge the rights of persons to freedom of association and collective bargaining. These rights are guaranteed to all under the Guyana Constitution. The GB&GWU also takes note of the role the government played, through Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul, under the labour law to bring a speedy resolution to the dispute. The due diligence expended on this matter is good but it would be better for Guyanese workers if all were so treated.
While our colleagues in NAACIE today rejoice over their fight for justice, which the GB&GWU wholeheartedly supports, it cannot be lost sight of that on the other hand the GB&GWU has been waging a battle since 1st January 2009 to get the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BGCI) to respect the workers’ right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, which the government has made a conscious decision to ignore.
Given the similarity of NAACIE and GB&GWU it shows clearly that while the laws of Guyana are made to protect the rights of every Guyanese, under the PPP government a section of this society will never be so respected. To get any respect those targeted for marginalisation will have to fight longer and harder.
The workers at BCGI are citizens of this country, who are bound to abide by and be protected by the same laws. The BCGI is owned by the Government of Guyana (ie the people of Guyana) and Russia Alumina, registered under Guyana’s laws, and must therefore comply with the law. That the country continues to see different treatment for different workers, and a government partnering with foreigners to trample on the citizens can only be corrected through bold action. As a trade unionist and regional councillor, in support of the opposition’s action to demand some legitimate compliance from the government on other matters before supporting the money laundering Bill, the workers of BCGI are also demanding that the opposition places their matter on the table as a condition for their support.
It is a violation of justice that the Minister of Labour via letters to the parties (GB&GWU and BCGI) on 29th February 2012 imposed arbitration to resolve the dispute and that this has not begun. It is also opportune to note that the government’s commitment to the court to re-issue letters to the parties in respect of the company’s registered name has still not been fulfilled. This undertaking was given in response to the case made by BCGI, before Justice Ian Chang, that the letter sent to the company was not consistent with the name by which the company operates and therefore the company is not legally bound to respect the Minister’s directive.
Under the Laws of Guyana the workers of NAACIE are equal to the workers of GB&GWU and if NAACIE and GPL grievances were resolved in less than a year, it is criminal to have the GB&GWU and BCGI’s grievances outstanding for more than four years! This is injustice and inequity of the highest order and the membership of GB&GWU demands that it end now.
Yours faithfully,
Leslie Gonslaves
President
GB&GWU
