WORKERS at the Linden bauxite operations owned by the Chinese company BOSAI Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc took protest action on Monday and continued yesterday in what is now described as strike action, after the bauxite firm failed to meet their demands for wages and salaries increases, offering what they claim is an unacceptable 6 per cent in this regard for 2014.

Speaking in front of the North Gate of the Linden bauxite operations, where several workers from the Mines and Plant departments had gathered, the Linden Branch Secretary of the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), Mr Aggrey Darlington, told media operatives that the workers had taken protest action because the company had been ignoring their pleas for a better offer than the 6 per cent placed before them in negotiations that began in May this year.

Darlington said, “Today we had a peaceful protest which, among other things, was because we are not comfortable with the behaviour of the General Manager of BOSAI, Robert Shang…and we are negotiating since May month and have not reached any settlement for wages and salaries along with a snack allowance.

“We are at 8.25 per cent and the company is at 6, and we are not satisfied with that, as they have been giving this for three years. We are looking for anything above 7% or nothing less…we need to break that cycle of 7 percent, as it is becoming a normal procedure, so we need to go above that,” Darlington argued.

Darlington said he had been out with the workers since 6:30hrs on Monday, and had observed Bosai’s Public Relations Officer, Ms Vanessa Mitchell-Davis, as she came out and took some pictures and went back in to the company.

“No other personnel from the management side came out to us. She did not address the gathering, but had some verbal altercation with a few workers, and she went back in,” Darlington claimed.

He said contact was made with NAACIE General Secretary Kenneth Joseph, and he will contact the management of BOSAI to inform of the workers’ decision to continue the strike. (Joe Chapman)