–Labour Minister assures RUSAL workers

MINISTER of Labour Joseph Hamilton cut to the chase on Friday, saying that the government has every intention of ensuring that the rights of every Guyanese worker are respected and not trampled upon.
He made the government’s position on workers’ rights known when he met with affected workers and union representatives of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), during a recent two-day visit to Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The Minister first met with workers in the Kwakwani area on Friday, while a larger meeting was held with the bulk of the company’s employees at the Watooka Guest House in Linden on Saturday. The Minister was accompanied to the Region by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.
“I just wanted to brief them as to the meeting I had with RUSAL thus far, and to let them know of our intentions to work with them, and that we will continue to engage them, so that they can be apprised of what is happening, and government’s position going forward, which, most important of all, is the protection of the rights of workers,” Minister Hamilton said.

Russian aluminum giant, RUSAL, is the parent company of BCGI, with a 90 per cent ownership in the company, while the government owns the other 10 per cent.
Through BCGI, RUSAL has been mining bauxite here in Guyana since 2006; however, since 2009, it has been having strained relations with its Guyanese staff.
In February of this year, the company officially terminated 326 employees over their taking industrial protest action, and according to reports, the company also terminated another batch of employees earlier this month.

The company suspended operations here since February, a move which led to a spate of rumours that it may have been closing down its Guyana operations entirely. However, it has since continued to indicate its intentions to stay.
Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU), to which RUSAL workers belong, was also present at the meeting, and said that the Union is looking forward to working with Minister Hamilton to resolve the situation.

RESPECTFUL AND CORDIAL

“It was a very respectful and cordial meeting,” Lewis said. “He gave his commitment that he will continue the engagement, because he wants to be properly informed. The Union’s position is very clear: That we have to give the minister the opportunity to resolve the differences; the same opportunities that were given to Ministers in the past.”
Minister Hamilton said he explained to the workers that though RUSAL has indicated its intentions to continue operations in Guyana, the way forward, as it pertains to labour relations with the company, would have to be dealt with after the company would have better outlined what future plans it has in store for Guyana.

“We are at the stage whereby we are awaiting RUSAL’s document, so it can be looked at. And we promised that once that happens, one week after, we would recommence the situation of properly discussing the issues with the workers,” the Minister said.
The Minister has also asked the GBGWU to submit a document outlining their issues.

“I asked the Union to document all of their concerns, and submit it to me, so that we can match RUSAL’s position and their positions when we review to see what could be done, or should be done,” Minister Hamilton said, adding: “Once we know we have a go on the recommencing of operations, then we would bring into the conversation the Union and the workers ‘rep’, and they can be part of the conversation, going forward.”
Earlier this month, Minister Hamilton had led a government delegation that had met with representatives from RUSAL, to discuss the company’s future in Guyana. The Minister said the company had noted that recommencement of its operations here will take some time, as there are several factors involved.
“They outlined some of the issues they have as regards the recommencing and re-opening of the operations,” the minister said. “The issues revolve around mostly technical, financial and marketing matters. The fact that they stopped production, their market shares was gobbled up by other suppliers. And there’s the fact that the shipping company also closed operations,” he added.

German transshipment company, Oldendorff, had terminated the services of some 132 workers, and closed up its Guyana operations in April, after RUSAL did not renew its contract with them. Given the host of issues overlooking RUSAL as it works towards a reopening of operations here, the company was asked to document and submit a report on the situation to the government.
“We asked of them to document all these issues and present a paper to us with a proposal. Hopefully, by mid-week, the Ministry of Natural Resources will get it, and the technical people will study it and then advise us. One of the ideas is to set up a joint technical committee to study all the issues, and to probably advise government,” Hamilton explained.