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Union wants new Labour Minister to settle outstanding RUSAL grievances
– says Nadir failed in responsibilities
The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) wants the new Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, to address long-outstanding issues concerning employees of RUSAL’s subsidiary; Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI); Oldendorff Carriers Inc. and the state-owned Linden Electricity Company.
GB&GWU yesterday said that it wrote the Minister yesterday bringing his attention to “outstanding grievances” involving the union and the three bargaining units.
Some of the issues were placed before the Ministry since 2007, the union said yesterday. 
GB&GWU’s President, Leslie Gonsalves, in the letter, noted that some of the outstanding grievances include the refusal by the three companies to treat with the union consistent with the Trade Union Recognition Act.
These include violation of the Recognition Act; industrial accidents that resulted in deaths and injuries of workers; wages and working conditions negotiation; refusal to establish arbitration procedure consistent with the labour law; arbitrary suspension and dismissal of workers and failure to have an inquiry into an incident where a BCGI senior official from Russia allegedly used a spade to threaten workers.
“Having taken note of Dr. Gopaul’s appointment as the subject Minister for the Ministry of Labour and the statement by the government that it is prepared to address issues pertaining to workers in a very dispassionate and constructive manner, the union interprets said statement as a new contract with the workers.”
The union also noted that Dr. Gopaul’s commitment to address all outstanding grievances is heartening.
“The Minister has years of experience as a workers’ representative. As such expectations are that he would bring to the Ministry the appreciation for respecting the rights of workers as critical to enhancing production and national development consistent with the International Labour Organisation’s Core Labour Standards.”
The union also complained that although its members have for years “been denied justice”, and the “dereliction of duty by previous Minister, Manzoor Nadir, in the abrogation of his responsibility under the Labour Law” it is now prepared to start anew to secure closure for the outstanding grievances and ensure justice is served for every worker.
“The union looks forward to a new beginning in setting an industrial climate consistent with international conventions and constitutional guarantees. The union has no reason, at this time, not to have confidence in Minister Gopaul whose trade union experience and struggles should guide him to sound decision making and the delivery of justice for Guyanese workers.”
GB&GWU has had a rocky relation with BCGI with workers taking strike actions in 2009 for better working conditions.
In November of that year, more than 50 workers, the majority being union representatives were dismissed from the company after being accused of leading the strike actions.
The company also moved to sever relations with the union.
The dismissed workers had staged protests, wrote government and several international organizations to resolve the matter.
It is this same issue, among others, that the union wants the new minister to resolve.
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