– fired RUSAL workers urge gov’t

THE 61 workers who were fired by Russian bauxite company (RUSAL) are contending that while emoluments are a major reason for their industrial action, poor working conditions, among others, also contributed to forcing their hands.

The workers are calling on government to intervene in the dispute, earliest.
For many years, the workers have been receiving a one per cent increase on their salaries and decided to down tools after deeming the imposition unacceptable.

While Russian managers related that the company cannot afford to pay more because it not making a profit, the workers are not buying this argument and are calling on the government to investigate this claim.

“That cannot be true, for last year, they bring in about 12 machines and about 18 trucks. If you not making a profit, why you keep investing in something you not gaining from,” one of the fired workers asked.

Another worker who was not fired as he is on sick leave was in agreement with his colleagues.

“They keep buying these triple seven trucks, about 12 last year and brand new loaders. These things cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Bauxite loading and shipping like normal, even when they had the sanction; is years now they claiming they not making a profit and they have to depend on the mother company, but which company would not be making a profit and stick around,” the worker reasoned.

The workers related that poor working conditions are also the reason for the strike, as well as the company not recognising the union. He said the company’s reluctance to hold talks with the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GBGWU), caused them to represent themselves, through strike action.

“We are fighting for ourselves, they don’t recognise the union who would take our concerns to them, and so we had no choice to strike,” the worker said.

This was corroborated by General-Secretary of the GBGWU, Lincoln Lewis, who said the union needed to engage the company before the company could have come to any decision on dismissal of the staff.

“The Collective Labour Agreement will require that management engage the bona fide representative of the employees on any action that seeks to interrupt their contract for service, whether through termination or re-deployment following consultation, negotiations and agreement between the employer and workers’ representative, in this case GBGWU,” he said.

RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION
The Russian managers are arguing that the workers’ decision to strike is against the contractual agreement, which does not provide for them to be absent from work, and the strike was no excuse.

BCGI representative Vladimir Permyakov has since said the strike by the employees has held up work at the mining company, and in some cases, has put the lives of other employees at risk because of the occupational and health and safety infringements caused.
Lewis has however contended, as well as the fired workers, that Russians should first respect the Constitution of Guyana before requesting workers to respect the constitution of the company.

“The management’s claimed position that workers can be terminated because they signed a contract that they will be dismissed if they refuse to work is blatant nonsense. Article 147 (2) of the Guyana Constitution protects the right to strike. Anything outside of the constitution that infringes on the rights of the employee is a violation. The fact that BCGI management can go to the ministerial body with such utter nonsense demonstrates the height of RUSAL’s eye-pass,” Lewis argued.

Article 147(2) of the constitution states in part that “no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom to strike.”

The workers related that there are several aspects of the labour laws that the Russians are not following and the Department of Labour continues to be lax on this matter. In addition, the company refuses to honour the labour laws which stipulate that workers must be paid double their rates on holidays.

The workers continue to be paid their flat rate. The working conditions have been described as deplorable and life threatening. There is no remuneration package in place for workers, in the eventuality of an industrial accident.

One welder employed at RUSAL related that workers are required to work at heights over 80 feet and they are not adequately compensated when completing these jobs, which he deemed life threatening. He said a bonus, which he described as “mediocre” is given, but at the company’s discretion. Any refusal to do the jobs, which sometimes take weeks, can result in their services being terminated.

“It is a very risky job, most of us get wife and kids, when you going up these heights, if anything happens, you can fall and die or get cripple and they are not compensating us for it,” he said.

RALLYING FOR WORKERS
Most of the 61 workers who were fired are residing in Kwakwani, while some are from Linden. Rusal is the main employer of residents residing in communities up the Berbice River. The economic and social rippling effects of so many workers being fired, from one small community, is of concern to all residents and on Tuesday, they blocked the main access road, in support of their relatives and friends being re-hired and treated respectfully.

One prominent resident of Kwakwani, Cort Simeon said residents are sending a very strong message to the government and the company and will continue to fight for justice with the workers. “These Russians eye pass Guyana, these people are fighting for their rights; why is it we have to accept it,” he said.

Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, who has responsibility for Kwakwani, bemoans the situation and is calling on the government to intervene soonest because it is very crucial, as persons are losing faith.

He reminisced on some years ago when 23 workers were also fired for striking and they lost all of their benefits.

“I wouldn’t want another set of people to be victimised, it is their right to protest and fight for a just cause,” he said. Adolph is also worried that the strike will not only affect Kwakwani, but the entire Region 10, which already has a low employment ratio.

“I am thinking about the financial impact on the region, for 61 persons to be unemployed, to be added to the hundreds who are already unemployed. It is a regional disaster and the government needs to intervene before it escalates, he said. Those persons have their families to maintain, they might have children writing the CSEC examinations; they are losing faith and everyone is panting for breath,” he said while reiterating that the government should not only meet with the union and company, but with the workers as soon as possible.

UTTER CONTEMPT
Meanwhile, in a strongly worded statement, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) lamented the complete and utter contempt of the Russian management of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) for the sovereignty of Guyana.
The union said if justified, workers can take legitimate industrial action without fear of unjustified and ruthless reprisals.

According to the GTUC, the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU), the trade union representing BCGI workers, learnt that the company had summarily dismissed 61 workers after they exercised their democratic right to take strike in protest over a ‘pay increase’ imposition.

The union said while its primary concern is to get the dismissed workers back on their jobs, it is concerned about the government’s perceived indifference on the matter.

The GTUC wants both the government and opposition to condemn RUSAL’s dismissal of the workers; a meeting between RUSAL and the government to facilitate unconditional reinstatement of the workers; an inspection of RUSAL’s operations by government officials; and the GB&WU to be recognised as the union representing BCGI workers.

The GTUC believes that while the role of RUSAL as an investor in the country’s bauxite industry warrants full recognition, the status of an investor does not entitle the company to ride roughshod over the laws of Guyana and the rights of Guyanese.
The Working People’s Alliance (WPA), which is part of the APNU+AFC coalition, has since come out in support of the workers.

“The Working People’s Alliance is of the firm belief that RUSAL should no longer be allowed to continue to function in contravention of our constitution, the laws that govern our land and the laws that protect workers and workers’ rights. We hope that this incident does not go unnoticed and that the government will take action in defence of the workers,” the WPA said in a statement.