…Harmon hopeful Labour, company find common ground
As almost 300 workers from the Guyana Goldfields company remain on strike, the workers at the Cuyuni -Mazaruni mining location are allegedly being denied food and shelter by the management.
Some of the workers were forced to sleep in heavy downpours
The workers claimed that they were forced to remain in the overnight downpours after the gates were locked.
In a video seen by this publication on Thursday, the workers were forced to remain in the showers throughout the night and were overheard in a discussion with Human Resources Personnel over not being provided with food.
In addition, the workers inquired about the reason for them being blocked from accessing the company’s Wi-Fi— which is their only means of communication with their families in the city and coastal regions.
The workers downed tools since Monday because of concerns over another company taking control of its mining operation and as such, they may not be paid their severance packages among other issues.
Information reaching this publication is that the staff has been dissatisfied for several months with the unfair treatment being meted out to them by the management of the company.
Some staff members complained bitterly of the discrimination at the hands of the expatriates that the company recruited to hold top positions within the company.
A number of the staff members who reached out to Guyana Times complained of gross mistreatment by those foreigners.
They claim that at the company, only the foreigners have a say and local workers’ rights are trampled upon. This, they say, is the main reason why the company is opposed to having union representation for those workers.
Workers demand Wifi connections as strikes intensifies
“They have no regard for us locals working here. Imagine they stopped us from using phone and internet during working hours and it’s unfair as we work so far from our families. They bring foreigners and pay them a ton of money to do the work that folks here can do better and they come here feeling they’re superior and they treat us like crap. We have no voice and can’t complain because the management is all for them,” one worker told this publication.
The workers also stated that they have no union representation but a Grievance Committee, headed by its very own Human Resource Manager, which had no interest in the rights and wellbeing of workers.
“We as workers don’t have a voice here. The HR department don’t care about the welfare of locals only the foreigners,” the staff added.
The workers alleged that the expatriates dismissed staff at their whim and fantasy without benefits and there is nowhere to lodge complaints or to receive representation.
“These people just come here, trample upon us and do as they please to. They have the full support or management and we as the small man have no say and we do most of the work. A lot of discrimination goes on here and we are gagged,” the staff stated.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon at his post-Cabinet press briefing Thursday told reporters that Department of Labour is working with Guyana Goldfields to address the issues affecting the workers that are on strike.
The Director General expressed hope that the company and Department of Labour find common ground so that the company can continue to work, produce and provide employment for the Guyana workers employed there.
Workers who were flown out from the mining site on Wednesday afternoon met with the Junior Social Protection Minister responsible with labour, Keith Scott.
Minister Scott acknowledged the workers concerns about being unrepresented by a union. He gave the Government’s commitment to ensure workers get representation.
Another meeting was scheduled for Thursday with the Ministry, company and proposed union representatives but efforts to obtain an update on that meeting proved futile.
The workers may return to work temporarily as the parties seek to iron out the issues affecting them, Minister Scott had said.
The company, in a statement Wednesday, said that the misunderstanding concerned management and certain open pit contractors.
The company said that workers blocked the delivery of ore to its mill. It noted that with the exception of the underground decline, operations were suspended until a resolution could be reached with striking workers.
“The company is actively working along with its employees and adhering to applicable laws and regulations and is facilitating communication with the relevant Governmental labour authorities to understand and address employees’ concerns and to resolve the matter as quickly as possible,” it said in the statement.
“AGM has been examining options to improve mining performance in order to ensure Aurora’s long-term future. No decisions have been made concerning any possible changes to the mining operation at this time… The company is making arrangements to have the strikers meet with representatives of the Ministry of Labour to mediate the dispute,” the company added.
