– workers block Berbice River to protest company’s decision
More than 140 workers attached to the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), also known as “RUSAL”, were given marching orders effective Thursday, January 23, 2020, with the company explaining that such a decision was made because the Government did not grant it duty-free importation of fuel.
The Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI)
However, according to the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), such a claim by the bauxite company is false since the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) had issued that letter of approval for the BCGI.
Therefore, it deemed the sacking of those workers as arbitrary.
In a press release on Thursday, the Union noted that at the request of the Department of Labour, they met on Thursday afternoon with Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle and the management of the BCGI in light of the situation.
According to the statement, when the management of the bauxite company was confronted on “the deception”, it changed its position as to the reason for such a decision and stated that the laying off was owing to the company scaling back operation.
“Further, the BCGI management was advised by the Union that the manner in which the workers were laid off constitutes a departure from established industrial relations practice and Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act in that the Department of Labour and the Union were advised beforehand of the planned action”.
However, the missive stated that the management’s response was that it had been given “expert advice to operate in the manner it did”, including posting the list of workers to be laid off on the Notice Board.
The press release further explained that the Union advised both the Chief Labour Officer and the BCGI management that the laying off of the more than 140 workers was in violation of established industrial relations practice and must be rescinded.
It also noted that the two workers, Glendon Tinnaman and Mario Harris, who were both electrocuted last November in and during the course of their duties, should be compensated.
“The Union will facilitate the opening of the Berbice River where our members are involved on the condition that the issue of wages and salary be settled now through arbitration or some similar condition. The River was blocked starting this morning.
The Chief Labour Officer informed the Union and BCGI management he will be sending a report to the responsible Minister.”
The GB&GWU noted that the recent conduct by BCGI is “clearly a planned attack on our democracy by the Russian management” aimed at creating political turbulence.
“Guyanese are not fooled by the timing nor action. Our sovereignty is facing further threat by foreign forces who want to direct or influence our show in Guyana, and it is not without support by some internal forces. It must not happen!”
