RUSAL workers take labour grievances to Minister

A staged meeting on Tuesday between past and present employees of RUSAL’s local subsidiary, the Guyana Bauxite Company Inc and Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott, has resulted in Government promising interventions.
Also present at the meeting was the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GBGWU), represented by the President, Leslie Gonsalves and the General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis. During this meeting, a number of issues that affected the employees and their community were brought to the attention of the Minister.
According to a statement on Tuesday, prominent issues highlighted included the dismissal of 62 employees between the years 2009 and 2010. It was highlighted by the Union that RUSAL continues to refuse to have any engagement with the recognised trade union as it relates to this matter.
The deteriorating Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) environment for the employees of RUSAL since the Minister’s last visit was also brought up. The workers explained that there has been a regression of exercising responsibilities that address Occupational Health and Safety on the part of RUSAL.
According to the statement, claims were made of RUSAL’s refusal to negotiate better wages, with workers complaining of the low wages and salary that are paid to them by the company. It was also noted that RUSAL has been selectively using the Collective Labour Agreement to discipline employees and would neglect to use such to negotiate better wages and salaries.
It was highlighted that RUSAL has failed to exercise its corporate responsibility to ensure the proper maintenance and repair of the roads within the community. As such, residents of the community are complaining about the conditions of the roads that they are forced to traverse daily.
Employees also expressed discontent that the matter of a tax waiver on overtime pay has not been resolved. The workers complained that the management of RUSAL continuously advised them that it was the Government that continued to hold up the waiver on overtime pay.
As such, having being brief on the issues, Minister Scott reassured the parties that their concerns have been heard and he would take swift action to address their issues.