THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) yesterday called on the Ministry of Social Protection to clarify the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated’s (BCGI) announcement to workers that there will be no increase in wages based on government’s directive.

BCGI is co-owned by Russian Aluminum (RUSAL) and the people of Guyana.
“Consequently, GTUC calls on Ministry of Social Protection to address this matter with the immediacy and seriousness it deserves and in the interest of restoring normalcy in the workplace. GTUC further calls for the enforcing Section 4 (1) (c) of the Labour Act Cap. 98:01.”
The GTUC said where a recognised trade union is in place, “no employer or government has the power or authority to arbitrarily determine there will be no wage increase, outside of official engagement between the employer and the workers’ representative.”
The Union, in a release to the media, said there exists a Certificate of Recognition issued by the Trade Union Recognition and Certificate Board, dated 26th July, 2007, which states that, “the GB&GWU [Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union] is recognised as the Bargaining Agent for all non-management employees excluding its security” at BCGI.
At a meeting on Monday at its Aroraima location, BCGI management announced that there would be no increase for 2015 based on advice provided by the government of Guyana. At a second meeting held on Tuesday, with another group of workers, management repeated the announcement made the previous day.
“Since 2009 BCGI has been engaging in acts and actions contrary to the Laws of Guyana with the complicity of the Government of Guyana,” a release from the GTUC said.
The union calls on the administration to “clarify this latest position by BCGI, even more so that the act by the company constitutes violation of the laws and transgression of workers/citizens’ rights which elected officials have sworn to uphold, without fear, favour or ill will.”
The Union said it finds it “very disturbing” that BCGI is “being allowed to violate the tenets of good corporate practices, universal principles and laws.”
“Evidently, this can only continue in an environment where a government and part owner lacks the political interest, will or commitment to take a stand for what is right, or as the workers are wont to believe, that they have been sold out by a group they voted overwhelmingly for.”
Such action by the company does not constitute a “stable industrial environment,” the Union added noting that the issue is solely about the workers and by law each worker is entitled to freedom of association and collective bargaining and every employer is “duty bound to respect” the law, while it is government’s responsibility to ensure the law is followed. Attempts to contact the subject minister Simona Broomes proved futile.

By Ariana Gordon