THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is calling on the Minister of Labour to intervene in the issue concerning Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) and the Russian Bauxite Company BCGI/RUSAL. The union said in a statement :” What started out as the union’s simple but fundamental demand for increased wages and the re-instatement of a certain type of overtime pay later blossomed into a prolonged dispute now involving recognition, questionable terminations, union-busting and alleged violations of both local and international labour laws and conventions. GAWU has been hesitant to enter into this union-company impasse for a number of reasons even though GAWU did express a guarded opinion at the outset of the problem.
“However, GAWU is now constrained, as a matter of principle and solidarity, to express this single simple view: that the Minister of Labour should reconsider his previous and current indifference with respect to this issue. GAWU agrees with those who have quoted the laws which provide the Minister with the authority to intervene. Section 4 of the Trade Union Recognition Act is instructive in the regard. Of course, no company or employer has any authority to “de-recognise” a duly recognised bargaining agent; that is the sole prerogative of the country’s Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board. GAWU cannot stand by when Collective Labour Agreements are being flouted even if we have an open mind on the new thinking of the affected workers themselves.”