INDUSTRIAL action by the employees of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) moved into its second day yesterday, with the workers’ representatives refuting claims by the management of the Commission that the strike was illegal.

Senior Industrial Relations Officer at the GGMC, Mr. Dennis English reiterated the workers’ position that the agreement signed in November last year gave a specific timeline within which the issues placed on the table should have been honoured.
Refuting the allegation that the strike was illegal, English said, “The union in the Terms of Resumption was given a month after which we reserved the right to review our position and we have written to the management indicating that we will be enforcing that right.” He claimed that the action was taken as the workers felt that their issues were not being addressed in a timely manner.
Questioned on the ongoing negotiations between the two parties, English said that there was no agreement to have any other meeting after the last one in December. He said that at the end of that meeting management should have sent a document pointing out its position, but there was no agreement.
The GGMC, in a press statement issued on Tuesday, stated that the Commission considers the strike to be illegal as negotiations were ongoing between the two parties. The Commission reiterated the need for the parties to abide by the standing agreement between the Guyana Public Service Union and the Commission for the recognition, avoidance and settlement of disputes. The statement pointed out that the agreement between that Union and the Commission clearly identifies the steps to be taken to resolve the current issues.
Deviations from these enshrined protocols can be construed as acts of bad faith, more so given that discussions and engagements were ongoing between the Union and the Commission.
Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Charles Ogle said that his office has launched an investigation into the dispute after they were advised by the Commission of the industrial action taken by the workers on Tuesday. He said that the agreement was signed between the two parties last November after his office was asked to intervene.
He stated that after the Terms of Resumption document have been reviewed his office will be looking at the actions taken by both parties with a view to having them meet and decide on a way forward. He could not give any definite time when this meeting will take place, stating that there is a lot to review. However up to mid-afternoon yesterday English claimed that no official from the Labour Ministry had contacted them.

(By Raymon Cummings)