A protest on Thursday by dozens of Bosai Minerals Group workers in Linden has hastened negotiations between the company and their union on wages and benefits.
According to head of the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) Kenneth Joseph, the workers were moved to protest because they were not happy with how fast the negotiations were moving.
“We have been speaking with the company and we have had quite a few meetings on negotiations and we haven’t asked for too many changes,” Joseph said, while pointing out that the unions are only requesting that the workers’ salaries be increased and that there be additional benefits.
He explained that the last meeting was held last Wednesday and while the union had initially asked for a 15% increase, the company indicated that it is only willing to give a 4.5% increase. “Our members in the field are not too happy with the rate and amount of talking we are doing to get to that point,” he said.
Joseph noted that the union had even signaled that was willing to lower its initial proposal and a 9% increase.
Another meeting was subsequently scheduled for September but Joseph explained that the protest prompted the company to move the discussions to next week.
“The negotiations are still going on but it’s slow and I suspect that the company wants it to drive out until December, when people will be looking forward to having a reasonable Christmas and accept whatever comes their way,” he said. He added that it is during the Christmas season that members usually heap more pressure on unions. “At this time, women are looking forward to purchasing school supplies for their children and it would put the pressure on the male to get extra money,” he added.
Joseph said that the union is trying its best to come to a reasonable conclusion. “When we have the strength to fight, we will and we don’t want to be pushing out hands and begging anybody,” he said.
He added that the company is currently celebrating 100 years of bauxite mining in Linden and the union wants the negotiations to come to a conclusion soon so that the workers can also enjoy the celebrations.
