Close to 160 workers from the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) in Region Ten began striking yesterday to protest the company’s imposition of a one per cent hike in wages without collective bargaining.
A representative of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) told Stabroek News that the protest started on Friday morning with day shift workers from the mines and maintenance departments downing tools. At the end of their shift, they were joined by the night shift workers from the same departments.
Stabroek News was told that other workers are expected to join the industrial action today.
“We have never received any substantial form of increase from this company. After we saw the little increase yesterday [Thursday], we learnt of the one per cent increase and that is where we decided to down our tools. This shows the company doesn’t have any concern for us the workers,” the union representative said.
The GB&GWU yesterday issued a statement in which it claimed that workers were threatened with dismissal if they failed to return to work yesterday. “…all are reminded that since December 2009, under the noses of successive governments, BCGI has been engaged in a series of violation of the law and transgressing of the workers’ rights,” it said, while noting that the management continues to refuse to treat with the union.
According to the representative, the Russian-owned company within the last few months has doubled its daily production. “They have doubled since they got the sanctions lifted. We are now producing between 1.5 barge, which carries about 3,200 tonnes, to 3 barges within 24 hours,” the worker said.
He noted that while management has indicated that the company is not able to pay hefty wage increases, it recently invested in 13 Caterpillar 777 trucks. “One of those trucks cost nearly a $120 million and they are telling us they are not making a profit,” he lamented.
It was further explained that workers are not being paid their overtime allowances and are only given $300 for meal allowances if they work through their break.
“They [management] are telling us that they are paying us well but they are calculating the money to outside on the road. In here, it is considered the interior because we are in Kwakwani backdam and things are extremely expensive and they are not seeing that,” he said, while pointing out that their living conditions are poor.
He stated that both the past and the present governments have failed to intervene to address their situation. It was further claimed that management has been attempting to intimidate workers by threatening dismissal. “Three times yesterday persons from management came around with different letters telling us what would happen if we don’t work… they have been trying to intimidate us but we will not be accepting that,” the man said.
The union in its statement said that it stands in solidarity with the workers in the exercise of their basic rights and for the upholding of their attendant rights. “GB&GWU calls on all Guyanese to understand the struggles faced by these workers, to empathise with them, and to lend them your support,” it said, while also calling on the international community to stand with workers.
The continued violation of BCGI workers, the union said, “threatens multiple family units and the communities within which they reside. The threat to one is a threat to all; and injustice here is an injustice everywhere.”
The statement said Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle and other government officials have been informed of the industrial action. The union representative indicated to Stabroek News that officials have responded and promised to meet with them sometime today. The representative added that they will continue to protest until an agreement is reached between workers and management.
