The protest action by workers attached to RUSAL Bauxite Company, Upper Berbice River, Region 10, is now having a severe impact on other companies operating in and around the area.
A section of the blocked Berbice River
While bauxite workers have blocked the river to aid their cause, their action has resulted in hardships for others who are employed with other Private Sector companies in the area.
In fact, the blocked river has now caused major problems for loggers in the area.
Managing Director of NS Bacchus logging operation at Hururu, Ameer Bacchus during a recent visit to the area, explained that the blocking of the river has put a hold on his sawmill. He said that workers are unable to use the river to transport logs and as such his sawmill is suffering. He said that it has been over a week since the river was blocked and he is now forced to send home his workers temporarily until the situation is resolved.
“We had to lay off our workers at the sawmill and within the concession. We had to stop all operations because there is no movement to pass the rope that they establish across the river there and so the vessel can’t pass.”
According to Bacchus, more than sixty workers – both temporary and permanent staff – have been sent home.
At least two other vessels belonging to different companies are waiting to go up the Berbice River to collect logs. Reports are that several others up the river are also waiting to transport logs to New Amsterdam and Rosignol on the West Bank of Berbice.
RUSAL and workers
The dispute between RUSAL and its workers started on January 23, when the company announced its decision to lay off workers after Government ended its duty-free importation of fuel arrangement.
Some 142 bauxite workers were part of the initial staff cut. This led to workers blocking the upper Berbice River to all vessels traversing.
As a result, an additional 146 workers were sent home last week. The company put out a notice on Wednesday advising that it has been forced to further reduce operations and lay off employees owing to adverse operating circumstances including shipment interruption because of the blockage of the Berbice River.
The letter stated that the lay off of employees will be recalled as soon as the situation returns to normalcy.
Workers attached to the Russia-based bauxite company have always been up in arms with its management.
The workers have been pushing for a satisfactory wage hike.
Over the past decade, wage increases ranged between one per cent and three per cent.
In protest last February, the workers blocked the upper Berbice River.
According to one employee, Ivan Leacock, this blockage is also for the same issue.
“Last year when we took action, we took action because they give us one per cent increase. You can’t even see one per cent. Their salary is big; their allowance is big. Everything for them is great and we Guyanese – next to nothing,” he told Guyana Times last week.
“We don’t want anything extraordinary; we want what is due to us. We want what we are demanding,” the worker declared.
Meanwhile, RUSAL’s management on Friday met with officials from the Social Protection Ministry. Next week, the Ministry’s Labour Department is expected to engage representatives from the Union, who have been calling for the discussions to be declared a deadlock and the matter sent to arbitration.
