GTUC wants outstanding BCGI matters addressed expeditiously

THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is calling on the government to speedily address outstanding issues with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), even as it lauds the ongoing visits to workplaces by junior Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes. The minister and her team were able to visit the BCGI Aroraima site, witnessed the deplorable working conditions, interacted with the workers and heard from them their grievances and abuses inflicted by management and though revealing for the public,has confirmed the concerns expressed by the trade union community.
GTUC said it is encouraged that Minister Broomes has committed to follow up the BCGI visit by writing management outlining the ministry’s concerns, and looks forward to the minister following through on the commitment.
However, the trade union body noted that even as the junior minister carries out her responsibility, there exists concern that the process for resolving matters dating back to 2009 which include 67 workers suspended for refusing to work under unsafe conditions and 57 dismissed, among whom were persons on annual vacation, remain outstanding.
“The commitment given to the High Court by the Ministry of Labour in June 2012 that letters will be re-issued for the commencement of arbitration must be respected. For these reasons the GTUC once again calls on Minister of Social Protection Ms Volda Lawrence, who has Cabinet responsibility, to have these letters issued as a matter of urgency.
“The results of the hard work of Ms Broomes and her team will only materialise when the political and legal weight, inclusive of the Cabinet, are thrown behind it. The current government while in opposition correctly demanded that Nanda Gopaul, then Minister of Labour executes the court’s decision. Today, the authority is vested in the current government and GTUC finds their dilatory tactics troubling and unacceptable,” the trade union body said in a release.
November 29 marks six years since BCGI, managed by a “ruthless group” of Russians, supported by an “uncaring Government of Guyana”, denied the company’s workers their constitutional right to belong and be represented by a trade union of their choice, the GTUC said.
These acts violate Article 147 of the Guyana Constitution and Sect 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Law. Workers’ and citizens’ rights are non-negotiable and nothing must come in the way of having them respected, the GTUC said.
It added: “The heavy burden of the dis-enfranchisement of bauxite workers and their families now rests squarely on the shoulders of Minister Lawrence.”
The trade union body has also called on the minister to discharge her constitutional responsibility without fear or ill will.
“During the six-year struggle, lives for the aggrieved workers have changed. Some have lost their lives and families, suffered injuries, families disintegrated, children forced to leave school, along with poverty and other social fall-outs. These are factors that ought to propel any caring minister to act with alacrity.
“The feeling by workers that they have a friend in the department of labour whereby the laws will be respected for both them and employers needs to be nurtured and grown,” the trade union body said.

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