The Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and the RUSAL-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) began talks on Wednesday to chart the way forward consistent with the Terms of Resumption (ToR) that ended a month-long workers’ strike on March 20th.
“GB&GWU is approaching the engagement with (an) open mind, fully aware of the acrimonious past and that healing, and the restoration of trust require time, honesty and constructive engagement between the parties. Same was verbally communicated to the BCGI delegation, who was attentive, interactive and receptive to a number (of) issues raised by the union’s delegation,” the union said in a statement yesterday in which it informed that a preliminary meeting was held on Wednesday at BCGI’s headquarters in Queenstown, Georgetown.
BCGI/RUSAL’s four-man team included two resident managers and two who came from Moscow specifically for the meeting, the statement said. It added that the union’s five-man delegation comprised Leslie Gonsalves, President; Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary; Wayne Coppin, Assistant Secretary; Ephraim Velloza, Branch President; and Leslie Junor, Branch Secretary.
“Notedly absent from BCGI’s delegation was its Labour Consultant/Advisor, Guyanese and former Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel,” the statement said. The union had previously expressed no confidence in Akeel.
GB&GWU said it guardedly interprets the presence of the Moscow representatives and Akeel’s absence as signals of seeking to honour the spirit, intent and letter of the ToR signed on March 20th. “Both parties have committed at items six and seven to “recognise the sovereignty, Constitution and Laws of Guyana and neither shall act in contravention thereof [and]…promise to uphold the spirit and goodwill to which this document was negotiated and signed and will do nothing to circumvent same.” It is not lost on the union that during the period where Akeel has advised, the company has failed to demonstrate any goodwill in honouring the stated principles,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the union said that consistent with a commitment in the ToR that all workers will resume duties within 72-hours after its signing, those on turnaround at 21st March returned to work yesterday.
“This will mark full resumption. Whereas the union will not be privy as to how many have not returned to their substantive job, given that Record of Attendance forms part of the company’s record, we have been advised some workers may not return. Approximately five have communicated they will not. The reason given is that while they are happy BCGI, via the ToR, has accepted the basic rights of the workers to a union of choice and collective bargaining, they can no longer work under the current conditions,” the statement said.
It added that in keeping with item four of the ToR, that “within 14 days following full resumption of work the parties shall commence negotiation of a new collective labour agreement…,” GB&GWU has begun the process of preparing its proposal. This proposal shall be submitted to management not later than next Friday, the statement said.
“At the submission of same, BCGI is expected to give a written response with a view of commencing bilateral negotiations in the first week of May,” it added.
In the meantime, the union branch and management shall have engagement on a number of issues, inclusive of transportation to and from work, and workers’ living conditions at the camp site at Aroaima, Berbice River. These meetings are to take place at Aroaima.
The statement also revealed that last Tuesday, workers hosted a church service, giving thanks to God for bringing them thus far through the struggle and for his continued guidance as they enter another phase. On Thursday evening, community receptions were held at Ladersville ‘the Crack’ in Aroaima and Kwakwani, where time was spent in reflection, entertainment and projecting for the future.
“The workers of BCGI would appreciate the continued support/solidarity from the Government of Guyana, citizens of the world, organisations and institutions, including the media, trade union and religious fraternities, etc. The struggle of these workers to ensure their respect and that of Guyana’s sovereignty has not ended. Finality, in this instance, comes when the issues before the union and management are resolved and the ink is dried on the agreements signed,” the statement said.
The industrial action by BCGI workers started on February 15th after the company unilaterally imposed a one per cent increase in wages. Workers also cited other unaddressed issues, including BCGI’s unwillingness to recognise the union as the workers’ bargaining agent. Following the firing of scores of striking colleagues, workers strung oil barrels and jars on wires across the Berbice River, blocking the passage of barges leaving and entering the mining site at Aroaima. Facing pressure, the government intervened and subsequently the union and the company began a bilateral engagement which led to the signing of the ToR.
