– following road accident involving 10 workers

In the wake of the accident on the Kwakwani Road on Saturday, involving 10 workers attached to the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI/RUSAL), the union representing them has spoken out against what they described as “the company’s unsafe practices in mining activities.” 

According to a press statement from the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU), on the eve of Guyana’s 48th Independence, the nation is confronted with another accident by the foreign-managed BCGI/RUSAL.
GB&GWU said: “This company, which the Government of Guyana has minority shareholding, is once again engaged in unsafe practices in the execution of its mining activities.”
It noted that the accident on 24th May involved a minibus transporting bauxite workers on a road that continues to see poor maintenance by the company. The accident resulted in injuries to the bauxite workers.
The release stated that BCGI continues to get away with bad corporate practices and disrespect for the Laws of Guyana because the government is uncaring and disrespecting of the category of workers employed by BCGI.
The union said that the 2012 ruling of the High Court is yet to be respected by the Minister of Labour in the form of reissuing letters to commence compulsory arbitration proceedings. The situation is made worse by an Opposition that prefers to turn the other way as one section of this society, its constituents, continues to be violated and abused by the government and BCGI.
The accident occurred in a company-assigned vehicle, on a company road, when workers were being transported in the execution of their duties, the release stated. This is another industrial accident resulting from negligence and gross occupational safety and health shortcomings which highlights the risk which BCGI workers face on a daily basis, the release added.
GW&GWU said: “We are reminded that accidents do not just happen but are themselves a result of failure to observe measures appropriate to their prevention.”
The union noted that Occupational Health and Safety breaches present a threat to labour’s safety and is not a matter to be taken lightly nor can it be compromised. The safety of workers at the BGCI has been compromised for some time now and all efforts made by the union to have the Ministry of Labour address these problems have been ignored.
The continued refusal of the Ministry of Labour to act in the interests of BCGI workers to resolve their grievances heightens the belief that this company has disregard for the laws, workers’ rights, including their safety, with the full support of an uncaring Government, the release stated. There are many instances that can be cited to make this case, the union added.
For instance in May 2009, BCGI workers had cause to protest working with malfunctioning vehicles, 67 workers were suspended. Industrial action was taken after some workers felt ill, one of whom is now permanently disabled. On 30th June, 2010 there was an accident of similar nature and two workers lost their lives, 15 were seriously injured and others traumatised. In 2011 a mine at Aroaima caved in, where a worker was covered and lost his life, the release recalled.
The union further noted that the number of serious accidents that occurred in BCGI has never been experienced before in the bauxite industry. GB&GWU asks in this season of independence how long more, how much more blood has to be shed, injuries sustained, lives lost, families dislocated and workers traumatised before the government of Guyana holds BCGI accountable to the Laws of Guyana.
Meanwhile, according to the release, the Guyana Trades Union Congress got a commitment from Opposition Leader, Mr. David Granger, that he will tie the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill (AML/CFT) to the Minister of Labour re-issuing the letters for arbitration.
GB&GWU is aware that when this matter was raised at the launching of May Week 2014, it was reported in the media that the PNCR General Secretary had said “that APNU was unable to take action because the GTUC’s request was made only earlier this year at a time when Government was falsely claiming that the Opposition amendments to the AML/CFT Act were made at the last minute and the two issues were unrelated.”
GB&GWU is asking the political leadership if they will continue to shy away from their responsibility to the people in light of what happened on 24th May. GB&GWU said it needs assurance that the Opposition is not in collusion with the Government to have a section of this society live as second-class citizens in the land of their birth.  The treatment BCGI workers receive at the hands of the management, the Government and the Opposition must be brought to an end, and all rights, laws and agreements be respected, the release concluded.