BCCI workers protest for better working conditions, salaries

…management to address matters shortly

Workers attached to the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BCCI) operators of the Berbice River Bridge staged a protest on Tuesday calling for better working conditions, improved salary scale and the removal of the company’s General Manager.
However, the protest did not affect operations of the bridge as the workers said the intention was not to disrupt the service but to get management to address their concerns.
The workers told the media on Tuesday that the issue of salaries has been on the table for more than one year as some workers are paid at a rate of $55,000 monthly, which is below the minimum wage.

The workers are being backed by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and according to their representative, Parmanand Mattoo, the decision to protest was taken on Monday after the Union and management could not reach an agreement as it relates to the issuance of protective gear in a timely manner.
“There was an incident where one of the guys from maintenance, his safety boots got a hole while he was on the bridge work and the boots start to take in water and his socks and the whole boot got soaked inside.”
Mattoo said they were informed by management that the worker had already been issued one pair of boots for the year and would not be issued with another one.
Asked whether this had always been the practice, the workers’ representative told the media that it was the first time that this information was passed to workers.
In fact, he said over the past three years he has been working with the company, workers had their boots replaced as soon as there is a need. He explained that the only delay would be if the stores do not have the required size.
The workers said that all of their personal protective equipment (PPE) including footwear remain at the work site when they leave for home.
Meanwhile, in a release GAWU said the picketing exercise outside of the company was calling on the management to respect the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. The workers are peeved over the management’s refusal to replace personal protective equipment (PPE) damaged during the course of their work. Attempts by the GAWU and the workers to have the BBCI replace damaged PPE have been refused bluntly by the management, the Union said.
Meanwhile, as it relates to the salary issue, GAWU was officially told that management asked the Board to address the salary scale.
In fact, a letter which was seen by this publication and dated August 31, 2021, addressed to GAWU’s New Amsterdam office and signed by BCCI Company Secretary, referred to a meeting held on August 26, which focused on adjusting the pay scale for the period 2010 to 2020.
The letter also stated that the Board of Directors was addressing the issue.
One of the Board members, Fizal Jaffarally, told the media, “After listening to the workers, I am satisfied that some of the concerns are really genuine.”
Jaffarally said after discussion with the workers, it was agreed that they will all return to work. It was requested that they document all of their issues and present same to him by Thursday.
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Public Affairs Consultant Kit Nascimento said the reasons for the strike were not brought to management. He referred to the strike as illegal.
Nascimento said the Union had not approached management on any of the issues raised by workers.
“There was no formal or informal approach by GAWU to the company,” he said, adding that the workers have not provided management with a list of grievances. Nevertheless, management has undertaken to have all of their concerns addressed within the shortest possible time. (G4)