Severed RUSAL workers protest outside Labour Ministry

Nov 23, 2010 News

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– Accuses Govt. officials of racism
The Ministry of Labour yesterday morning attracted some of the sacked Rusal workers, their friends and union leaders, each with placards in hands held high, depicting their disgust and anger with the way Government has responded to their pleas for help as it relates to their labour dispute with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BGCI), (RUSAL).
Approximately one year ago, BCGI issued suspension and dismissal letters to a majority of their workers who were involved in a strike. In the end, 57 of these were dismissed.
The bauxite company had also notified the Labour Ministry that it had erratically terminated the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) that it had signed previously, and in simple words, would no longer honour that agreement.

At the scene of the protest, Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin, M.P., was in the “forefront”. He told this newspaper that the Labour Ministry claims that it requires some more details and information concerning the 57 dismissed workers.
The first thing, he said, was that the Labour Ministry requested the workers’ names.
Corbin explained that the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) had stated that it had already sent the relevant information to the Ministry a very long time ago, that it was not a case where the Ministry was not given names and other facts.
The opposition leader said that he told the GB&GWU that if the Ministry is “claiming that it does not have the information, then resend it, if that is what they are claiming is preventing their intervention in this matter.”
Corbin stated that he had a pre-arranged meeting with the Minister of Labour, Mazoor Nadir, on Friday, last, to raise this issue which has been “prolonged” for more than one year. The Ministry does not appear to recognise the need to treat the issue with greater concern since it has failed to deal with the issue and there are laws which have been established to govern it.
Corbin added that there is no evidence on Government’s part to show that they have done their job and that these “workers have a right to justice”.
He said that he is going to do all he can to ensure that there is a resolution to the plight of these 57 workers, even though one year has already passed. He said that he has arranged with the Union to meet with the Chief Labour Officer today at 01:00 hrs.
Mayor Hamilton Green simply stated that Government’s action in this issue is “a rape of the so called return to democracy.”
General Secretary of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, told the media that Government’s actions have “nothing to do with names”.
He stated that the company took the decision to terminate the services of these workers. The company, Minister Nadir and the Chief Labour Officer have been written to on countless occasions but to no avail.
Lewis told Kaieteur News that on one occasion last May, the Minister said that he would convene the necessary meeting but this is “clear rubbish” because the Ministry “doesn’t have the intention to resolve this.”
Leslie Gonsalves of the GTUC declared, “The Minister admitted that he has to take more direct approaches on this issue. He admitted that he didn’t take it as seriously as he should have.”
Another protestor told this newspaper that Government is showing its true colours. Its actions show that it is “racist and this is economic genocide.”
Winsworth Blair and Emilton McAlmont, two ex-workers of the company, told Kaieteur News that they joined the protest yesterday not because they were some of the 57 that were dismissed last year, but they were dismissed last week, because they were also “fighting for their rights” at the bauxite company.
According to Blair, he saw expired goods when he conducted inspections, he signed on documents with other persons that revealed his findings. There were expired coffee, butter (Mello Cream) and other tin items that could not be utilised and were dangerous to worker’s health.
He disclosed that many workers often complain of belly pains and burnt stomachs and a few days ago one worker was discharged from the hospital after he underwent surgery.
McAlmont explained that a letter sent from management of the company, read inter alia, “This letter is to inform you that the Company has lost confidence in you as an employee and can no longer have you continue in employment here at BCGI”. The letter was produced to this newspaper by McAlmont yesterday.
He said he was verbally told that he “incites workers not to go to work”. The man stated that the food conditions at the camp are very atrocious and unhealthy and anytime a worker speaks for his rights it becomes a problem, either he is “knocked off” or he is victimised.
McAlmont further stated that the General Manager says he “gets 100 per cent backing from the Minister”.
Another protestor stated “The Russians say plain that anytime we talk for our rights, we getting sent home”.
Wayne Coppin, another ex-worker, told this newspaper that the bauxite company “blacklists its workers and sends names to companies so if they go looking for other jobs, it is very hard”.
He added that the General Manager said to over 80 workers that he “fought a lot of wars and never lost any, and didn’t come to Guyana to lose.”
Some other ex-workers said that the company is now hiring employees on contractual terms, so it does not “have to pay NIS or taxes”. If workers get injured while working, it is at their expense and they have no medical benefits.
Alfred Layne, an ex-worker, added that the working conditions at the company are hazardous and a few times when workers went to use the washroom facilities, there were snakes inside.
General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Oscar Clarke, Frederick Kissoon, Mark Benschop and Member of Parliament, Basil Williams were also present at yesterday’s protest.
When Kaieteur News spoke with Minister Nadir last evening, he reassured that Government is currently engaged with both parties, talking with both the Company and the Union.

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