The trade union representing bauxite workers yesterday demanded swift follow-up action on issues currently roiling the industry and said it will hold government accountable for ensuring that Russian Aluminium (RUSAL) conforms to commitments made.
The Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union’s (GB&GWU) demand followed a meeting with workers and Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally on Friday. The meeting came after workers attached to RUSAL’s subsidiary, the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), took strike action on February 15 after the unilateral imposition of a 1 per cent increase in wages, which they had claimed was unfair. Subsequently, with the strike continuing, 61 workers were fired on February 18.
Facing calls to take a stand and represent workers, a team of government ministers met with company executives last week with Ally meeting workers at Maple Town, Aroaima on Friday. A number of issues were raised including BCGI’s reluctance to recognise and negotiate with the union.
Ally assured that each of the issues would be addressed and said that getting the dismissed workers back on the job was paramount. She also said that the GB&GWU must be recognised by the company and had noted that government is waiting on a response from the company’s executives, which is expected this week.
In a statement yesterday, the GB&GWU demanded swift follow-up action by the government. The union said that while they welcome the visit and sees it as a “good sign” following public pronouncements and reassurances by the government that the GB&GWU is the bargaining agent and must be respected by the company and the company has to speak with the union, this is not all that is required to achieve the targeted end results.
The union called for swift action to give meaning to the promises and commitments made by Ally, and while commending her, said they are not prepared to only accept the minister’s call for respect of the labour laws.
“…we hold her and Government accountable for ensuring the RUSAL management conforms to these without delay, failing which there must be immediate consequences. This is important lest RUSAL takes the Minister’s words lightly,” the union asserted.
“In order to achieve this, a meeting between the union and BCGI management to determine the Terms of Resumption is expected immediately. Further engagements to discuss other identified issues of industrial importance long overdue will then follow,” it added.
The GB&GWU reminded workers that they cannot afford to forget that while the Coalition Government has spoken out now, they were silent as an Opposition amidst continuous violations by RUSAL/BCGI management occurring since 2009 when 57 workers were fired for protesting.
“Until now efforts by [then] Opposition Leader Robert Corbin stands out as the sole effort to bring an end to the lawlessness encouraged by our lawmakers and the Executive branch of government since 2009 when this nation witnessed first-hand how RUSAL was disregarding our laws and preparing to dismantle unions protecting workers’ rights,” the union said.
It emphasised that silence is not an option when Guyana’s national interest is under threat. “GB&GWU recognises that whereas RUSAL’s invitation to invest and the violations started were given tacit support under then President Bharrat Jagdeo, the time has come for a change in direction and for consciousness to trump pride,” the statement said.
The union called on Jagdeo to stand with the nation in protection of sovereignty, the national interest, and the rights of Guyanese workers. “Fail-ing to do so, Opposition Leader Jagdeo has to be mindful his silence becomes indicative that there is PPP or at least his support for RUSAL’s lawlessness; a lack of consideration for Guyana’s national interest or that he is driven to action and struggle only in pursuit of executive power and nothing else matters,” the union warned.
Meanwhile, speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, GB&GWU Secretary Leslie Junor said that the situation remains the same and the union, along with the workers, are waiting anxiously for word from the Ministry of Social Protection, which they are expecting to come by the end of today.
“Otherwise than that, everybody is still in the same boat. Nobody at work at the mines or workshop and some people went down and some at the club, some home but tomorrow everybody will be here,” he related. He said that the workers have been using the food hampers that were donated by the ministry.
The GB&GWU had also urged workers to remain mobilised and vigilant as it said that the struggle does not end when the ink dries on the Terms of Resumption signed by the parties involved.
“It only ends after implementation of the agreement is met. We must hold steadfast out of an abundance of caution based on our own experiences with failed promises and seeing defeat snatched from the jaws of victory of others whose struggles have been torpedoed and gains, perceived and promised, lost when they become complacent,” the union said.
