Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman on Saturday visited workers of Russian Aluminium (RUSAL) who continue strike action along the Berbice River and urged a resolution of the now almost one-month long dispute.
“I did pay a visit to RUSAL workers who are at the Berbice River protesting…I thought it was important for me as the Minister of Natural Resources to actually see the condition because I have seen photographs sent to me by various residents in the community and the company, of the barricade across the river,” Trotman was quoted as saying in a Department of Public Information (DPI) news release.
The workers have blocked the Berbice River, preventing the company’s barges from transporting bauxite. This began in mid-February, following the imposition of a unilateral one per cent increase in wages by RUSAL-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), along with other unaddressed issues, including BCGI’s unwillingness to recognise the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) as the workers’ bargaining agent.
Following the strike action by the workers, the Ministry of Social Protection took the lead on the matter.
“I am giving support as best as I can… But as the Minister of Natural Resources, I believe it is my duty to go and meet and to hear from them [workers on strike], as we have heard from the company,” Trotman was further quoted as saying even as he acknowledged the Social Protection Ministry’s role in addressing the situation.
DPI said that after listening to the workers, Trotman noted that they have justifiable concerns that should be heeded.
“I continue to urge that both the company and the Ministry of Social Protection find a path forward,” he said, adding that “what we have is a stalemate” and “it is not helping anyone, it is hurting families, it’s hurting the company and of course, it is hurting the economy of Guyana.
“I don’t believe that we could continue as we have been for too much longer and in my personal view, that I will share with Cabinet, our plenary as it is now referred to… if that relationship is so fractured, perhaps it is time we look elsewhere… we can’t have workers crying out like this; they are Guyanese… I met fathers, I met mothers, I met persons who haven’t seen their families in over a month, and it is heart (rending) and I believe something has to be done soon,” Trotman emphasised.
DPI reported that the minister also expressed his support for arbitration noting that he would expect that RUSAL would concede and accept that arbitration is the best way forward so that the government would not have to go to compulsory arbitration.
“Let us hope that good sense prevails,” he urged.
DPI said that thus far, the peaceful protest action by the approximately 60 workers is said to be well organised as the workers have divided themselves into shifts.
The release said that in a recent interview, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, disclosed that the government has sent proposals to RUSAL and the trade unions to outline their grievances in writing. He assured that before any resolution can be tabled, the affected workers must be reinstated.
