THE Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), the majority trade union grouping of Guyanese workers, is unequivocally against the recent move to the courts by RUSAL – the local subsidiary of the giant Russian aluminum company.

FITUG, which represents some 35,000 of the nation’s registered trade union members, said it denounces totally, the company’s instituting legal action against the leaders of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) which represents the Company’s workers at the Aroaima, Berbice location.

The Rusal subsidiary, Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) has filed a writ in the High Court naming the General Secretary of the GBGWU, Leslie Gonsalves and Branch President Carlton Sinclair as defendants claiming that they “conspired” and “induced” the Company’s workers to strike.

“Without dealing with the details of the causes of the strike in May 2009 and the subsequent back-to-work agreement or the details of the Company’s High Court suit, FITUG finds the Company’s legal action unprecedented and completely repugnant to the culture and tradition of worker representation in a democratic society,” the union stated.

“The RUSAL BCGI should be ashamed to institute legal proceedings against the Union leaders as it could be construed to be action against the workers themselves,” FITUG said, adding that this is intimidation, coming at a time when the Company should be promoting welfare and goodwill among its workers who must produce to keep BCGI viable.

Noting that BCGI now risks the label of “anti-union and anti—working class”, FITUG said it hereby pledges to demonstrate its collective solidarity with the Union – GBGWU – in whatever manner is appropriate.

FITUG is also advising the Company to review its decision to move legally against the Union leaders even as agreements stipulate that “there shall be no victimization by either party”.

“Otherwise, its shame on BCGI RUSAL!” the statement added.