…Union cries constitutional violation, calls for political intervention
…company no-show at Labour Dept’s conciliation meeting
The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) is holding on to its call for Government to intervene in the Russian Aluminium Company (RUSAL) controversy, which took another turn with the abrupt firing of some 61 striking Guyanese workers. This was confirmed by the GBGWU’s President Lincoln Lewis, who told Guyana Times on Monday that a list of names was provided which detailed the workers who are now jobless.
On Friday, operations at the company’s Region 10 location were temporarily shut down after workers protested an arbitrary one per cent salary increase by the multi-national company – an increase which was reportedly sanctioned by Guyana’s Government. Lewis was asked if he has been given assurances by the Minister charged with oversight of Labour, Keith Scott, of a possibility of settling the matter, but the Union President responded in the negative.
“We didn’t talk with the Labour Minister, there’s no assurances from anybody,” Lewis strongly commented.
On Monday, RUSAL’s management was a no-show at a conciliation meeting even though they were called upon by the Labour Department. It has been relayed that the affected workers were given letters of termination dated February 18, 2019, without reasons cited. However, the Union representative plans to ventilate the issue to the fullest extent, saying that matter would be “prosecuted”. He did not confirm if this meant that RUSAL’s representatives would be served with legal action but noted that it is a possibility.
“It would be possible – we are contemplating both political and legal action,” Lewis stressed.
He further noted that there have been several constitutional violations on the part of the foreign-based company over the last decade, but Lewis is of the view that the State would not have allowed local companies to do the same. He said it is only the politicians that can speak as to why this has been continuing.
Lewis said that he sees this current issue as a transgression on the rights of workers. “When people can challenge your Constitution and your laws, then you have to take action against them…the President and the Opposition Leader should get involved,” Lewis, who is also General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), said.
Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle has, however, indicated that a conciliation meeting will be held today.
RUSAL’s reported dismissal comes after workers were, in fact, threatened with dismissal after they initiated the strike action. However, under Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana, striking workers are afforded protection.
The company, in a letter dated February 15, 2019, which was seen by this publication noted that management had no alternative but to close the mine area due to the withdrawal of labour by workers attached to the mining equipment/mobile equipment maintenance department. It noted that work was halted in the department until further notice. “All affected workers are asked to leave the premises of the company with immediate effect,” the letter went on to state.
There was a planned meeting between management and employees on Saturday where workers intended to reiterate their calls for a 15 per cent increase. During the meeting, issues such as wage increases, living quarters and transportation were reportedly discussed and Regional Vice Chairman for Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Elroy Adolph in an invited comment said employees were very disturbed over the rate of the increase, but have faith in the Workers Union.
The GBGWU on Friday noted the situation was an embarrassment to all Guyanese. According to the Union, Article 147 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana protects the right to strike, noting that in the collective bargaining process, striking is considered an industrial weapon to be used whenever the circumstances become necessary.
“In this period of political division and external tension with our neighbour Venezuela that is facilitating a growing presence of Russia in its ongoing pursuit of geopolitical relevance, is management’s new threats and intensified violation a strategy we must pay attention to,” the Union had also stated.
