THE intervention of Minister of Labour Dr Nanda Gopaul has failed so far to bring resolution to the continuing industrial action at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Representatives of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the union representing the striking workers, met with the Labour Minister on Wednesday but that meeting ended in stalemate as the union was asked to have the workers return to work so that negotiations could resume with the management of the Commission. The union on the other hand is insisting that the increases proposed by management, and sent for approval, be paid before the workers return to work.

The union’s Senior Industrial Relations Officer Denis English yesterday told the Guyana Chronicle that the workers will not return to work on promises to address the issues that caused the grievance. English said that the strike in November last year was terminated following the signing of a Terms of Resumption and with the exception of the 8 percent across the board increase that was paid as part of the agreement for them to resume duties, nothing else in the Terms of Resumption was honoured.

STRIKE ILLEGAL
The workers have so far ignored the advice of the Chief Labour Officer who last week wrote to the union following an investigation into the actions of both parties after the signing of the Terms of Resumption last November and advised them that in his opinion the strike was illegal.
The Labour Minister has also urged the workers to resume duty and follow the procedure as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the GPSU and GGMC.
The Collective Bargaining Agreement makes provision for unresolved matters to be taken to conciliation and then arbitration, if still not resolved. The union has not taken any action to move the dispute to conciliation but has remained on strike for the last three weeks.
Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle, who has the legal authority to take action to bring a resolution to the stalemate, has refused to speak to the Chronicle when enquires were made as to what action he plans to take to end the stalemate.

(By Raymon Cummings)