Workers laid off by the Russian-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) yesterday blocked the Berbice River in protest and their union, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) has declared the actions of BCGI as a “planned attack on our democracy by the Russian management aimed at creating political turbulence.”
Scores of workers who showed up yesterday morning at the mining site in Maple Town, Aroaima, Region Ten, were informed of the layoffs by a notice that was posted outside of the company site on Tuesday afternoon.
The company, owned by RUSAL, informed employees in the notice that the downsizing of operations was a result of a “fuel shortage.”
The letter stated, “We wish to advise that we are forced to reduce operations and lay-off employees due to shortage of fuel.”
However, those laid off have been informed that they will be recalled as soon as the situation stabilises.
The announcement is the latest crisis in relations between the company and workers, which have been underpinned by acrimony over wages and conditions. Talks on wages have been stalled for months and workers may see these layoffs as an attempt to pressure them.
The action by the company came as a surprise not only to workers, but also the union and the Ministry of Social Protection.
Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally told Stabroek News yesterday when contacted that she only learnt of the layoffs yesterday morning and her Junior Minister, Keith Scott, is looking into the matter. Scott has the responsibility for the Department of Labour.
Chief Labour Officer at the Department of Labour, Charles Ogle, yesterday met with the GB&GWU and the management of BCGI. The meeting was convened at the request of the union in reaction to the company’s move to lay off workers.
In a statement, the GB&GWU said that during discussions, BCGI changed their position on the rationale behind the layoffs. A statement issued by the union explained that the company created the “pretext that it was not granted approval by the Government for duty-free importation of fuel. This is not true. The Guyana Revenue Authority issued that letter of approval. When the management was confronted on the deception the position was changed that the laying off is the result of the company scaling back operation.”
President of the union, Lincoln Lewis, yesterday told Stabroek News that when they objected to the manner in which the workers were laid off which violates the country’s labour laws, representatives of the company responded by saying that they were given expert advice to operate in the manner they did, including posting the list of workers to be laid off on the notice board.
The union also pointed out that according to industrial relations practice and the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, companies are required to inform unions of their intention to retrench, the union statement added.
Lewis yesterday told Stabroek News that given the company’s explanation, they have registered several concerns with the Department of Labour, which Ogle said will be forwarded to Scott, who is the minister responsible for department.
The veteran trade unionist explained that they have made it clear that the layoff was in violation of established industrial relations practice and must be rescinded.
He also stated that the union will only facilitate the reopening of the Berbice River once the company agrees to entertain talks on arbitration for wages and salaries. At present, two barges are currently waiting to transport bauxite to a ship waiting further up the Berbice River.
Lewis also argued that the company must compensate and settle issues that remain over the two workers Glendon Tinnaman and Mario Harris, who were electrocuted last November during the course of their duties.
One year
Additionally, the union in their statement said “March coming will mark one year since Terms of Resumption was signed between the Union and Management in the presence of the Department of Labour for the parties to proceed with discussing matters pertaining to wages and salary and other conditions of work.”
The union pointed out that every effort made to have the “process conducted consistent with the extant Grievance Procedure has come up with roadblocks by a management bent on thinking we are fools or inferior beings. The workers and their Union have had enough.”
The union is of the view that “our sovereignty is facing further threat by foreign forces who want to direct or influence our show in Guyana, and it is not without support by some internal forces. It must not happen! Not in the 50th year of our Republican status, which not only signifies but cements the complete severing of the yoke of colonial domination and foreign interference. The workers are not going back there, willingly or kicking and screaming. No way!”
Meanwhile, dozens of workers remained at the Berbice River front monitoring the blockage that they put in place.
Workers have strung oil barrels and jars on wires across the Berbice River, blocking the passage of barges leaving and entering the mining site at Aroaima, Berbice River.
Union Branch Secretary, Leslie Junor, yesterday told Stabroek News, that the move by the company came as a surprise to workers. He noted that the move illustrates the company’s lack of interest in the welfare of employees.
He told Stabroek News that even though workers have been laid off and told they can leave the mining site, the company failed to provide any transportation to take them from the mines. He also stated that no provisions for meals were made for those who could not leave immediately.
“They violated the labour laws by letting go of us like this but we don’t plan to change our position until our issues are solved. There is no concern for us, all these Russians want is for us to work so they collect their bauxite. We have so much issues that need to be resolved and they are the conditions under which they have us working and our wages and salaries. Those needs to be fixed,” Junor was quoted as saying.
One of the laid off workers, Compton Joseph, told Stabroek News that he has worked with the company for more than eight years. He stated that he had foreseen some actions by the company in response to workers not meeting the goals set but didn’t expect it to be now.
“I worked the day shift and they post the notice last night [Wednesday] when the night shift finished. It was when we come to work this morning we saw the notice with our names on it. The group is like almost the whole workforce,” Joseph said.
He explained that that they are still looking for answers as the company has not informed them of any payments nor given them a reason for the move.
“At this time we need a collective intervention by the opposition, government and all other parties because families are going to suffer and we need all the help we can get,” the worker said.
Approximately a year ago, disgruntled workers of the company blocked the Berbice River in a dispute over wages, preventing the company’s barges from transporting bauxite.
The workers, who began striking on February 15, 2019 following the imposition of a unilateral 1% increase in wages by the company, along with other unaddressed issues, including BCGI’s unwillingness to recognise the union as the workers’ bargaining agent, said the move was a signal to the company to show the need for urgency in finding a resolution.
The company fired 90 workers following the initiation of strike action with 60 workers being dismissed initially and an additional 30 being sacked in the ensuing days.
Following the industrial action, the company and union met with the Department of Labour and agreed to engage in discussions to iron out their issues. However, this arrangement bore no fruit and their union, the GB&GWU, pointed out that talks have been stalled for over two months as the Ministry of Social Protection’s Labour Department has failed to facilitate it.
