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GWMO, GDDMA call for speedy resolution to end GGMC strike action
Almost three weeks into the strike started by workers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, (GGMC) for increases in wages and salaries, officials of the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation, (GWMO) and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association, (GDDMA) are calling for a speedy resolution to the issue which they say has adverse effects on the industry as well as the Commission.
President of the GWMO Simona Broomes
GGMC workers initiated strike action over delays by the management of the commission to reach an agreement with the Guyana Public Service Union, (GPSU) for increases in wages and salaries.
GPSU has been pressing for GGMC workers to receive as much as a 35 per cent increase in their wages and salaries but the Commission has been prolonging the negotiations to come to an agreement on the matter.
Last year, the union managed to acquire an eight per cent interim increase for workers but negotiations between representatives of the union and the management of GGMC for 2013 and 2014 are yet to be finalized. There were reports that the decision to pay rests with Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, who has been unavailable for comment on the issue.
Industrial Relations Officer attached to the GPSU, Jermaine Hermanstein, said that the representatives of the Union met at Ministry of Labour, on Wednesday last, for further discussions on the matter but the agreement is yet to be met. Hermanstein related that union is adamant that the strike will continue until the matter is finalized.
“We made it clear that we will not be signing any terms of resumption until the agreement for better wages and salaries are met,” he added.
At the interim, Hermanstein said that the offices of GGMC will remain closed. On Friday, officials of the GWMO and the GDDMA met with representatives of the union to raise concerns about those operating in the industry.
During the meeting, it was noted that while miners are in support of GGMC workers receiving better wages and salaries, the shutdown is affecting those operating in the mines.
President of the GWMO, Simona Broomes, noted that the strike has caused the business of the industry to suffer. Broomes referred to the situation as a “disaster.”
She said that the impact of the strike is not only “felt” in Georgetown but also in the mining districts.
“It is not only the office in the Georgetown but business cannot be conducted at the GGMC stations at Imbaimadai and other mining districts,” Broomes said as she pointed out that the shutdown has affected the payments for claims and other business transactions conducted at the Georgetown Office of GGMC.
She noted that the delay by Minister Persaud to approve the implementation of better salaries for GGMC workers has caused disrespect of those operating in the mining communities since there are no field officers to regulate the mines.
“Has nobody regards for miners?” Broomes questioned. “I would like to remind the Minister that this issue is causing a crisis for miners. I would like to call on the Minister to expedite this matter so that miners can go on with their business of mining.”
GGDMA Administrative Coordinator, Colin Sparman, also called for a speedy resolution of the issue. According to Sparman although there have been no real complaints by miners to the association, the GGMC strike action can have an adverse effect on the financial aspect of miners as well as the commission.
He explained that miners have always depended on GGMC Mines Officers to police and monitor operations in the fields, a lack of which may result in an increase of looting and other illegal activities in the back dams.
The GGDMA official had also said that the strike will have a severe impact on small and large scale miners especially since all rental fees, claims, license fees and other transactions are done via the Commission.
(Rehanna Ramsay)
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