The current political impasse has stymied the progress of labour talks and an order for Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) to enter into arbitration to resolve a long brewing dispute over wages and salaries.
General Secretary of the GB&GWU, Lincoln Lewis, told Stabroek News on Friday that the dispute between the two parties is set for arbitration and explained that they will only be able to start talks once the political impasse is resolved.
“It will go to arbitration after the current political impasse as when there is a new government we expect the new minister will sign the order,” he said.
According to Lewis, despite claims that the Russian-owned company has halted operations, the law remains clear on how the matter should be dealt with.
“There are people who are saying RUSAL (Russian Aluminum, parent company of BCGI) wrap up their operations, but they have property in this country and the law is very clear. When this matter goes to arbitration and the arbitrator gives an award, the property of RUSAL as along as it remains a legal company in this country can be levied on to pay the staff,” Lewis declared.
At the last engagement with the Labour Department, Lewis had said that the union was pressing for the dispute to go to compulsory arbitration.
In January RUSAL’s management fired a total of 326 workers and announced the suspension of its operations. This announcement came as a surprise to government officials as they were only made aware of the company’s decision during a meeting.
The union and BCGI have been in a decade-long labour dispute over a number of issues, including wages. Following strikes last year, the company signed an agreement to engage the union to find a solution but this did not materialise.
Since January 23, workers and residents have been camping at the riverfront, keeping a watchful eye on a barrier erected across the Berbice River to prevent BCGI vessels from using the river. As a result, barges belonging to BCGI have been docked at their wharf close to the mine site and unable to travel to New Amsterdam to offload.
Police attempted to remove the barrier across the river and this resulted in a standoff.
Affected workers and residents of the communities near the mining operation had called on the now caretaker government to prevent the company from resuming operations here.
The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), which is government’s holding company had paid the salary and wages of staff in February. The Union after applying to the Ministry of Finance was granted a $30 million grant, which was used to pay staff. That was a one-time payment.
