The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) is cautiously optimistic that the more cordial relationship between it and the RUSAL-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) will soon bear fruit.
On March 20, a month-long standoff between workers and BCGI came to an end after BCGI agreed to reinstate 61 sacked workers and negotiate a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) with the workers’ union.
GB&GWU Secretary Leslie Junor told Stabroek News on Saturday that the union is currently working with the company to draft this CLA which is expected to be finalized by the middle of May.
“The last meeting was two weeks ago. So far they are more receptive, friendlier but we are still holding their feet to the fire. We are working to make things better it is going slow but we are moving. We are having a good relation so far. Hoping it will continue and bear fruit,” Junor explained.
The dispute between GB&GWU and BCGI has been described as the “longest labour struggle in the history of Guyana”
Speaking at this year’s May Day rally General Secretary of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) Lincoln Lewis reminded that the “struggle” with the bauxite company lasted nine years, three months, and 28 days or 3405 days.
“Nothing like this should ever occur in this country again. No worker in this country regardless of sector, political persuasion, race or other should ever have to go through this gain. If it happens to one, it happens to all. And today we here must commit to ensure that it never happens. A threat to workers anywhere is a threat to workers everywhere, that is how it must be,” he told those gathered at the National Park.
According to Lewis the BCGI struggle demonstrated that the trade union movement is not only alive but still relevant.
“Had it not been for organised labour what would have been the lot of the workers employed in BCGI?” he questioned before expressing pride in the commitment of the workers.
“I thank you personally and on behalf of the members of the GB&GWU. To those workers let me publicly say- I am proud of you, and I sure I can speak on behalf of the entire trade union movement, we are proud of you, for you represent the best of us, each of you represent the strength of the union. It could not have been done without your commitment to end the violation; your belief in yourself, in what is right and just. Your right to social justice that was denied you through government turning a blind eye to the violation of a foreign entity,” he stressed while thanking Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally for doing what those before her with similar power, failed to do – stand up to a global giant to protect the sovereignty of the nation and the workers of Guyana.
