RUSAL/Bauxite dispute…
MINISTER of Labour Manzoor Nadir has dismissed claims in certain sections of the media that the labour department has not done enough to intervene in a dispute between RUSAL workers and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU).

Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir

The minister said the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) hinted to having written him on the issue but he is yet to receive such a dispatch.

Responding to a statement that the ministry was mandated to intervene, Minister Nadir explained that the department had done all in its power to assuage the situation.

“Looking at an interview in the electronic media, the Leader of the Opposition makes mention of the possible failings of the ministry in terms of the RUSAL/Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) dispute. I must say that the ministry has been involved and has taken the matter to its farthest point,” Minister Nadir noted.

He said there is a stalemate as it stands, and not much left to be done to unite the parties except continually urging them to meet.

“If the union claims that the Collective Labour Agreement is invalid, then there must be some terms of resumption and the ministry again has been urging them to meet under its auspices…The union says it has a legal position on the Collective Labour Agreement.”

Minister Nadir added that no company can unilaterally decide to derecognize a union since this falls under the purview of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board.

Over 100 members of the union had applied to the Board, requesting that the union be derecognized.

However, the Labour Minister explained that once a union has been certified as the bargaining unit, the employers must deal with the union.

He mentioned that the union has been levelling spurious accusations against him including that of racism which the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has been handling.

“Our job at the ministry is to ensure the labour laws are observed and enforced within the laws and intervene on behalf of workers. We have been doing that and quite successfully too.” (GINA)