Nadir accountable for his June 15 agreement with ICEM-GB&GWU

Jun 28, 2010 News

The GB&GWU on Friday dispatched a letter to Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir as a reminder to him of his commitment made on June 15 to Mr. Manfred Warda, General Secretary, International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), of his willingness to facilitate dialogue between Guyana Bauxite & General Workers’ Union and the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI).

The commitment was made at a meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland at the Head Office of ICEM, the world federation that represents mining trade unions in some 100 countries with over 20 million workers.

ICEM also reminded the Minister of its readiness and willingness to participate in dialogue in Guyana to successfully resolve the dispute.

The Union said that it has taken note that the Minister in his June 16 media release on the ICEM meeting failed to mention or acknowledge his commitment to facilitate talks between the Union and BCGI.

“Neither has the Minister to date informed the Union of the time for the talks between the parties as he agreed to with ICEM,” the GB&GWU said in a recent statement.

The Union also expressed the hope that consistent with the principle of agreement the Minister would put systems in place as soon as possible to initiate talks.

According to the GB&GWU, in its letter to the Minister, he was also informed that the Union stood ready to proceed with an engagement with BCGI as soon as possible and it does not hear from him, the Union will be calling his office to follow up.

The dispute between the GB&GWU and BCGI is eight-months and counting. The Union said that 57 workers were wrongfully dismissed and are being denied justice.

“Also these workers and their families are being denied a living through no fault of theirs.”

The GB&GWU is now hoping that with the Minister, having received letters from ICEM’s General Secretary and the GB&GWU General Secretary (ag.) as a reminder of the June 15 engagement and his agreement that efforts would now be made to initiate a process that can bring an end to the dispute.

The Union said it is looking forward to the Minister proceeding consistent with his responsibility as vested in the ‘Powers of the Minister in the case of a dispute’ under Section 4 (1) of the Labour Law 98:01.