AGM, Union to negotiate Collective Labour Agreement

…assurances given former AGM workers would get 1st preference

Officials from Aurora Gold Mine and its new Chinese management, Zijin Mining Group Company, met on Tuesday with the National Mine Workers Union (NMWU), where it was agreed that negotiations on a Collective Labour Agreement will begin in three months.
The Union, which is the recognised representative of unionised AGM workers, was represented by its founder, Sherwyn Downer, and newly-appointed Executive Lindon Jones, in the talks. In a statement afterwards, Downer revealed that a number of issues were raised in the meeting.
Among the issues raised was the need for former employees of Aurora to be given first preference as the company takes on additional staff during its phased reopening. In addition, both the company and the Union agreed that a negotiation for a Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) should begin in three months, taking into account the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
“All former employees will be given first preference to be rehired in phases and they have the right to support the Union if they so desired. As President of the National Mine Workers Union of Guyana, I extended an olive branch to the company and assured the company that despite many challenges and issues remain to be discussed and resolved, no ‘thug-like approach’ will be used or applied to resolving the issue in going forward,” Downer further explained.
“AGM/Zijin committed that 90 per cent to 95 per cent of its employees will be Guyanese even as the Union insists and demands that locals are first for employment. In the end, both Union and company agreed to work together and pledged to co-operate in the best interest of both Union and company.”
This publication had previously done an interview with AGM’s Director of Corporate Office and Compliance, Peter Benny, in which he had stressed that both unionised and non-unionised workers have been rehired and that the new management will seek to hire former employees as they expand operations.
It was further related to this publication that production will be restarted in phases, with the first and current phase being stripping activities, that is the removal of overburden. According to the company in a statement, the 56 rehired staff were drawn from a shortlist of experienced and highly skilled former employees.
The company had also informed this publication that it has not hired any additional personnel and that as they continue their activities, more former employees skilled in this area will be rehired by AGM. The company had noted that former employees will continue to enjoy first preference, once they have the relevant skills.
AGM, previously owned by Canada-based Guyana Goldfields, has since come under the control of Chinese mining company Zijin Mining Group Co after it bought out Goldfields and its operations in Guyana.
Goldfields had moved to downsize its operations since May 2020, after facing constraints from the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with other financial woes. It was also linked to the company’s transition into underground mining.
After initially selling its operations to Silvercorp, another Canadian mining company, Zijin Mining Group made a superior offer to Goldfields that Silvercorp failed to match within the stipulated time. As a result, Zijin was able to clinch the deal.
Hundreds of local workers were laid off by Goldfields in the process, their job descriptions ranging from attendants to electricians to heavy-duty equipment operators and blasters. Workers were paid their severance, however, with the new Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat making it clear that Zijin will have to fulfil all safety and other regulatory requirements in Guyana. (G3)