RUSAL’s union de-recognition bid fails

Mar 09, 2011 News

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– PPP leaders urged to intervene in year-long impasse

In a major blow to the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (RUSAL), the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TUR&CB) has ruled that the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) remains the recognized bargaining unit for the company.
The union has also written to several PPP leaders to intervene to end the year-long impasse.
TUR&CB’s Secretary, Charles Ogle, in letter on February 18, informed RUSAL that it had carried out a verification procedure (survey) using two Ministry of Labour officers.
RUSAL and the union has been locked in a battle over a year now, with the company actively seeking to derecognize the body. There had been a number of demonstrations including at the Prime Minister’s office and at the Ministry of Labour.
GB&GWU has accused Government of racial discrimination and failing to act to bring the matter to arbitration. The union has been gathering local and international support in its case.
According to the letter by TUR&CB to Linden Prince, who represents RUSAL on the Workers’ Committee, “your request has not met the requirements of the law, hence the union remains the recognized union of the company.”
In December 2009, shortly after firing 62 workers for participating in strike action for better wages and conditions, the Russian-owned company which has operations in Kwakwani and Aroaima, Region 10, signaled its intentions to derecognize the union.
Several of the shop stewards, who were among those fired, were asked to vacate the homes provided by the company.
BOLD RUSAL
According to the union, yesterday, the letter by the TUR&CB is a clear indication of the union’s authority.
“GB&GWU is of the firm belief Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir’s refusal to put measures in place to bring BCGI to the table to honour its obligation under Section 23(1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act serves to embolden the company and others to disrespect the laws of the country and the rights of workers, thereby contributing to the degeneracy in society,” the union said in a statement yesterday.
“This impasse which began since May 2009 has escalated to seeing 62 workers dismissed without due recourse, tens of millions of dollars denied in income, the right to work taken away, workers suspended for protesting unsafe conditions, industrial accident and death, the failure to allow for the negotiations for improved working conditions and increased wages/salaries for two consecutive years.”
The union noted that after the Minister wrote RUSAL in December 2010 and secured an initial meeting, the company refused to attend subsequent meeting.
“The Minister has so informed the union, claiming that he does not know how to proceed and was accordingly reminded of his responsibility under the law, which saw the union requesting of him compulsory arbitration to bring the company to the table with a view of settling the outstanding matter.”
INACTION
According to the GB&GWU, this position was supported with a call from the Guyana Trades Union Congress via letter to the Minister on January 15.
“To date the Minister refuses to carry out his responsibility under Section 4 of the Labour Law 98:01 in as much as he exercised similar power no less than three times, within the last two years, to settle disputes between GuySuCo and Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), and City Council and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU).”
The union was harsh on how it viewed Nadir’s seeming inaction.
“GB&GWU sees the minister continuous violation of the laws of  Guyana against a group of the workers known for their independence, high skills set and outstanding work ethic, and against a people whose economic deprivations are largely the result of the vindictive policies of this administration.”
PPP HELP
Warning that it will continue to engage civil society in the fight to reinstate the workers, the union disclosed that it has dispatched letters to the PPP General Secretary, Donald Ramotar, and GAWU President, Komal Chand, bringing to their direct attention “the violation of the law and the transgression of rights of bauxite workers by an operative in the PPP government, and seeking their solidarity to have the minister uphold the law for bauxite workers.”
The union also noted that Ramotar, Presidential Advisor, Gail Teixeira, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Chand and Parliamentarian,Moses Nagamootoo, all of whom are in the PPP leadership, and prior to October 1992, walked together with the GB&GWU on matters of workers and national interest.
“The GB&GWU feels the time is nigh when one good turn deserves another and expects the reciprocity of solidarity from the PPP and GAWU in its pursuit for justice for the working class in the bauxite community.”

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