… RUSAL workers urged to cut ties with GB&GWU

THE Russian-controlled Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) has prepared a document indicating that its workers no longer wish to be represented by the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU).The company is instructing its workers to sign this document, which the company would forward to the Government of Guyana with the hope that “the workers’ request would be respected”.

Guyana Chronicle has been reliably informed that this bauxite company has told its workers that it has found a union for them, and accordingly, “they must sign the document, and it will be forwarded to the Government to put the (GB&GWU) in its place.”

The BCGI has, moreover, issued contracts to those permanent employees who are perceived to be resisting the company’s position regarding the new union. “This contract gives the company the right to terminate an employee with just a month’s notice,” the source told Guyana Chronicle.

It has additionally been reported that the company has been intimidating its workers to obtain their support for the company’s intended actions.

One of the “contracts” issued to a permanent employee of BCGI and seen by this publication states that the contract is effective from October 10, 2016, and “shall remain in force unless terminated by either party in accordance with Clause 5 herein”.
Clause 5, however, speaks to “Liability to make good the damage”.

Clause 4, on the other hand, refers to termination of the contract. “This contract may at any time be terminated by either party in accordance with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, No. 19 of 1997.”

Disconcertingly, the contract clearly states that the new agreement “replaces and supersedes all contracts of employment previously entered into by the parties”.

BCGI has long resisted recognising the GB&GWU.

Contacted on Sunday, one BCGI employee told Guyana Chronicle that many persons have been duped into signing this “contract” with the belief that they would be promoted and their wages and salaries enhanced. The employee, who has more than 10 years’ service with the BCGI, said: “They come and had a meeting with us and tell us that we will go to contract…. Some people ain’t read it, some people done sign it already; but when I read this contract…it tells you you’d no longer be a permanent employee, and all your benefits would be gone if you sign it.”

CLAIMS
This employee said the BCGI management has repeatedly said that there is no need for a union to represent the workers, and has noted that it would find ways to ensure that the workers remain unrepresented. “They kept saying that they’d turn contract workers into permanent workers, and permanent workers into contract workers…but when they give me the contract to sign, immediately I tell them to give me some time… I asked them if I can come back with the contract, and they said no, so I took copies of it. They told me I can only get the contract after signing it,” this worker recounted.

According to the worker, who claims to be holding on only because of family commitments, the situation at BCGI is becoming even more frustrating, as management is hurling threats at workers. The worker likened the situation at the Berbice River company to what obtains under slavery.

“They keep saying they don’t want union; they are not prepared to work with no third party,” the worker recounted. The worker said that speaking out causes “lots of pressure (to) start coming down on me”.

“These people does push you a lot — to the limit; (such) that you could do them anything…,” the frustrated worker told the Guyana Chronicle.

This worker says the company has given workers up to Tuesday to sign the contract. Asked what alternatives workers have who refuse to sign the contract, the worker replied, “I honestly don’t know.”

The worker explained that a work mate who is unwell was told by management that “if he don’t sign the contract he won’t get paid, and he won’t have a job… They didn’t tell me anything,” the worker stated.

Without representation from a union, the employee said, “it don’t be easy”. Workers are forced to work in dangerous conditions, and are often threatened when they refuse to carry out functions that are unsafe. “If you refuse to work how they want you to work, they tell you pack up and go along,” the worker revealed.

CAMPAIGN PROMISE
For fear of victimization, this employee has requested anonymity, but disclosed that workers are pleading with the Government to assist them.
The employee said that before elections were held, many promises were made; but “so many months after, nothing has happened for us”.

“Everybody waiting; they (the new Government) come in and say any problem we get, they willing to help us. They made election promises. Ninety per cent of these workers are not comfortable…we want to protest, but the workers are scared.”

According to the worker, the time is ripe for the Government to intervene and assist the workers of BCGI. “These people are taking advantage of us…they are doing what they have to do, but we have nobody to represent our interests…. By the time the Government decides to act, there will be no permanent employees here, just ‘contract’ workers.”

Additionally, the BCGI employee said, workers have not seen an increase in wages and salaries for a number of years. “…is like you in a slave camp… you scared because you have a family, and that ain’t supposed to be,” the frustrated worker declared.

“Workers are badly in need of this union (GB&GWU). You could deh and hear anything go wrong. We are willing to strike, but we have no union to represent us…,” the worker explained.

Attempts to contact Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, with responsibility for labour, Keith Scott, were unsuccessful on Sunday, as his mobile device was switched off.

ALARM
The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial Employees (NAACIE) had in September expressed alarm that the interest and welfare of bauxite workers were being “increasingly dependent on the priorities of expatriate ownership and management”.

In a letter to the editor, which was published in the Stabroek News on September 1, 2016, NAACIE had said that it noted with trepidation the sidelining of legal representation of one union in the bauxite sector (GB&GWU) seemingly in preference to the relationship of a company (RUSAL) with Government.

“This is wholly reprehensible, as it undermines trade union democracy, whereby bauxite workers are now shrewdly being denied representation by the union of their choice”, NAACIE had said.

The union says representation by a trade union is a guaranteed right granted by the Constitution of Guyana, and noted that while the Department of Labour serves to conciliate on technical matters relevant to non-agreement, or statements between unions and employers, “never should any Government seek to usurp the status and role of a union elected by workers”.

“As one of the unions in the bauxite industry, (and as) a representative of workers employed by BOSAI Guyana, NAACIE views the infringements by the RUSAL employers with great concern”, NACCIE General Secretary Kenneth Joseph had stated. “NAACIE views the ongoing saga, whereby RUSAL is refusing to recognise GB&GWU in keeping with the Laws of Guyana, with disquiet… This is not what the Coalition Government promised. NAACIE supports union recognition for RUSAL workers, in keeping with the laws, and offers our unstinted solidarity to the GB&GWU. All the workers of Guyana respect the right to be unionized.”

Attempts to contact representatives of BCGI on this issue have proved futile.