Bosai workers strike after receiving retrenchment letters

Aug 12, 2015 News

Chairman of Region Ten, Renis Morian yesterday called members of the media to a press briefing where he expressed total dissatisfaction and frustration with the present situation regarding Bosai’s treatment of their employees, who had once again proceeded on strike.

Bosai workers on strike last week.

It was their second strike this month.
Workers took to the streets yesterday after some of them were served retrenchment letters, despite the understanding that none would be retrenched, but that they would all work eight-hour shifts, instead of the previous twelve hours.
Morian, who had in his possession one of the letters, said that the workers should not have accepted same.
“The Honourable Minister Raphael Trotman came up and the agreement was eight hours for each person so there would be no need for retrenchment and that was the agreement. This morning the workers called me – basically from last night, Bosai has commenced the whole programme of retrenchment which is contrary to the spirit and letter of the agreement agreed to with the minister.
“I am saying at this point in time, on behalf of the residents of Region Ten, the Government needs to make a robust step in; I think their intervention has been too passive, it needs to be more robust to engage Bosai. I did call, and I am calling on the Government to review Bosai’s contract as it relates to workers in Linden. We are not getting as residents, a fair deal from Bosai. Whoever are the persons who are advising Bosai, they have their own interest, but I am speaking in the interest of the residents of Region Ten.”
Morian cited an instance where the question was asked whether the retrenchment of 47 persons would affect Region 10. He said that such a question is an insult to the people of the Region.
“We already have high unemployment – let us say 47 persons have at least three children, think about that person who is affected. It will take an effect on the residents of Region 10. Hence I am calling on the Ministry of Labour and all the other relevant ministries for their intervention with Bosai which needs to be robust and not a passive intervention.
“I would like to see in Region Ten, the whole bauxite industry be open up to more investors. So if the contract ties us to a situation where Bosai is the only person, such a contract needs to be renewed in the interest that we have more investors vying for bauxite in Region Ten.
Meanwhile, Bosai in a press release sought to clarify the situation regarding the workers in their employ.
The release indicated that union officials of NAACIE (National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees) met with Bosai Management on Monday morning on the retrenchment issue, and of the employees’ decision to accept the eight-hour per day work schedule.
According to the release, during the meeting which was held in the Bosai Admin Conference Room, Bosai Management reminded the Union of the agreement on the Terms of Resumption. The company also highlighted the breach, whereby employees failed to report for duty on Friday August 7, 2015. Management also requested from the Union the decision made by the employees during consultations, about the reduced hours, the release added.
It stated further that some employees disrupted the meeting by banging on the door of the conference room bringing the meeting to a halt, and demanded to speak with the Union representatives.
After an intervention by the senior Personnel Officer, two union representatives met the workers, while another union representative stormed out of the meeting angrily, calling it a waste of his time, the release said.
A heated discussion with union representatives and senior Bosai staff followed, where it was pointed out that the Union never consulted them on the issue of reduced working hours, and that the Union cannot just make a decision to reduce their pay.
The employees further demanded to speak with the General Manager on the issue, since they felt that the Union representatives now see them as “these people” and not “Union Members.”
The release added that the General Manager and other Senior Managers listened to the “angry employees” claim of non-consultation on the issue by the Union, and that they are not in agreement with the decision of reduced hours.
A petition was subsequently sent to the Union and one was also given to the Senior Personnel Officer by the employees, against the decision of the Union to reduce their hours of work. However, it was explained to them that they would have to speak to their Union Representative off the company’s premises.
The meeting was later reconvened by the Senior Personnel Officer Ms. Truedel Marks who repeatedly questioned the Union concerning the agreement of the employees.
The Union then informed Management that they had meetings with the majority of their members who agreed with the eight hours per day proposal instead of the 12 hours per day work schedule, and that was the decision they were going with. They however refused to give management a written confirmation on the decision.
Ms. Marks subsequently brought the meeting to a close, saying that after the disturbance by the employees – stating that they did not agree with the decision, and that Management ought not to mess with their salary – the company could not go ahead with the Union’s decision, since it was apparent that they did not consult all their members.
Over the weekend, another press release was sent to the media houses which read in its entirety:
The management of Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Incorporated wishes to correct the miss-information that is presently circulating in the Press.
On Thursday, August 06, 2015 after the employees proceeded on strike. The Bosai’s Management and NAACIE Union were invited to a meeting at the Ministry of Social Protection. The Chief Labour Officer chaired the meeting.
At the meeting, the NAACIE Union executives proposed (one (1) of several suggestions) that the working hours be reduced from twelve (12) hours and ten (10) hours per day to eight (8) hours per day in an effort to halt the retrenchment process.
The Management of Bosai agreed, with the understanding that the Union Executives consult with their Membership about their proposal (reduction of working hours) and to inform the Management of Bosai of their decision by 10:00 hours on Monday, 10 August 2015.
If the employees through their Union (NAACIE) agree to this proposal (reduction of working hours) to avoid retrenchment, then the Management of Bosai is willing to acquiesce.
Concerning the issue of overtime payments, the Management of Bosai is very confident that overtime payments are computed and paid in accordance with the Labour Laws of Guyana.
Further, Bosai’s Management regrets that it has to make this decision (reduction of staff (retrench), but this decision is necessary for the survival of company, the employees, and the community as whole.