Trade Union denounces mistreatment of workers at Guyana Goldfields

Mar 05, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
With reference to an article appearing in your Thursday, 3rd of march, 2016 edition captioned “Aroura denies allegations of running slave camp”, it must be clear that these allegations of slave camp treatment is not new and must be taken seriously be the Minister of Social Protection and Government.
On July 27th, 2015, it must be remembered that prominent mining advocate, now Trade Unionist, Sherwin Delano Downer, was contacted by Guyana Goldfields workers on the said allegations of slave camp treatment was raised by workers to which an article was published by your news paper.
Today as president of the National mine Workers’ Union, I feel somewhat vindicated that there was and remain merit of allegations of unfair, unjust and mistreatment of Guyanese working for the Canadian run Guyana Goldfields.
Today, sadly, there remains a high level of disrespect for workers rights, denial of their rights to union representation, flouting of the labour laws and little or no adherence to safety and health regulations.
The Human Resources Manager of Guyana Goldfields, Mr. Peter Benny, is someone I believe is not a nice person.
After my article was published last year, it forced the then Junior Minister of Social Protection, Ms Simona Brooms and Chief Labour Officer, Mr Charles Ogle, to visit Guyana Goldfields to which they promised to make their findings public but it was never done.
The National Mine Workers Union of Guyana calls on the government to release and make their findings at Goldfields public to which they promised to do.
The National Mine Workers Union of Guyana has sources within Guyana Goldfields/Aroura Gold Mines from General Workers to Senior management officials who have for the last three months been making contact with the National Mine Workers Union via text messaging, phone calls and in person contact requesting a visit and meeting with workers of the company.
Emails and post mails were sent to Guyana Goldfields’ offices on the 8th of February, 2016 with respect to workers request for meeting and visit.  To date, the company has not returned any calls or acknowledgement to our emails and letters, which we deemed very disrespectful by the company.
It is alleged, according to our many sources within Guyana Goldfields/Aroura Gold Mines, Peter Benny, the human resources manager, told workers that as long as he is there at Goldfields, no union will be negotiated with. Further, when workers approach Mr Benny to raise work related issues, they are told by Mr Benny that he has five thousand application forms on his desk and people want work; this is an act of intimidation.
This practice by Guyana Goldfields must not be condoned by consecutive governments. We urge the government to take a bold step to ensuring that the rights of  their citizen is respected and that they are  treated fairly by Guyana Goldfields and all other companies operating in the mining industry.
The Union condemns in the highest form of condemnation, the unjust, unfair and unacceptable treatment meted out to the workers at Guyana Goldfields and mining workers at large.
There is a workers committee set up at Guyana Goldfields, according to our sources, which was intended to address work related issues but sadly and more disappointing, Mr. Benny is head of that committee. So the bucks stop with him and go no further.
National Mine Workers Union of Guyana stands in solidarity with workers at Guyana Goldfields and  the laboring masses in the mining industry in their struggles for better working conditions, respect for their rights, better take home payments and respect for labour rights.
Sherwyn Delano Downer
President
National Mine Workers Union of Guyana

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Trade Union denounces mistreatment of workers at Guyana Goldfields

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