SOME 400 RUSAL Bauxite employees working at Kurubuka Mines, Demerara Berbice Region, are emotionally charged and psychologically ready to take industrial action, if not promptly reimbursed the more than $173M deducted as taxes on overtime worked in excess of 40-hours per week and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

This was the clear signal sent when executives of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) met with the Guyana Trades Union Congress’ General Secretary Lincoln Lewis on Friday.

The delegation comprised: Ephraim Velloza, Branch President; Leslie Junor, Secretary; Garfield Brutus, Vice President; and Rawle Casey, member.
The officials, who had come straight out of Kurubuka with the clear mandate to make it known to their employers, the Bauxite Company Guyana Incorporated (BGCI) that “Enough is enough! We want our money now!”

They said their patience is ‘running thin’ and warned that they will make good on their promise made recently about taking strike action, should the company and Government not tell them decisively when they would be paid their money.
Lincoln Lewis outlined that the issue at hand has long been pending and the tax-free concession on overtime is an entitlement for the workers and not a favour.
“It is a benefit to which the bauxite workers are entitled, and was given since the former President Desmond Hoyte’s time,” Lewis declared.

He said the Government decided that the companies directly involved in bauxite work: Bosai, BGCI and Oldendorff were to benefit from the tax concession.
However, Lewis recalled, the Jagdeo administration took the concession away and so eventually only the sugar workers were made to enjoy tax-free overtime.
He said that subsequently, representation was made for the Government’s re-intervention into the issue which entailed the removal of taxes from overtime worked in excess of eight hours in any day (Monday to Friday) or Saturday and Sunday worked. The documents were drawn up and endorsed by the respective employers; Government and the unions.

Unfortunately, in the case of BCGI, the unions said, the company decided that it would not sign the document since the GBGWU was a part of the process and, that they (the BCGI) do not recognise the GBGWU. This is despite the fact that the GBGWU is the certified and recognised union, under the laws of Guyana to represent the bauxite workers.
Lewis said the matter went on for eight years, and eventually a poll was called in October 2016 and was won convincingly by the same GBGWU.
Thereafter, the company is reported to have claimed recognition of the GBGWU, however, the union secretary, Mr. Leslie Junor claims that the company has failed to acknowledge letters that the body has written to them.

A fortnight ago, the workers gave the company an ultimatum in which they demanded that unless the matter is addressed and they are refunded the monies that were deducted as taxes, they would take strike action.
That demand led to the company signing the document but the relationship between the company and union has reportedly remained strained, with little interaction between the union and the company, likewise the union and the GRA.

According to the union, the Government has ruled that the cease order for the deduction of taxes on the overtime hours specified, take effect from October 1, 2017, but that has still not happened.

Further, the union said it was led to believe that the BCGI would have been calculating tax pay from November 1, 2017, to 28 November 2017, and securing it in a safe place for expeditious payment to the workers.
Instead, the union is now led to believe that they are being taken for a long ride, as it is not clear where the money is and when it will be paid over.
“We are asking questions but not getting answers,” Junor said.

However, the union has acknowledged that Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott had insisted that the monies owing to the workers by BCGI be paid to them. It is still not clear why this instruction has not been honoured, the union commented.
Meanwhile, asked what is the Revenue Authority’s position on the matter, the bauxite union said the GRA is not meeting with them. Lewis said he has been trying without success to reach them by telephone.

“We need some answers and we need clarity,” he said.
Efforts by this newspaper to reach the human resource manager of the bauxite company proved futile, and this newspaper was told that the personnel was not available for a comment.