GAWU urges Complete Review of current Bauxite Sector Industrial Dispute

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the major representatives of and bargaining agent for Guyana’s sugar workers wishes to place on record its considered views on the current months-long industrial dispute involving the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU) and the Russian Bauxite Company BCGI/RUSAL.

What started out as the Union’s simple but fundamental demand for increased wages and the re-instatement of a certain type of overtime pay later blossomed into a prolonged dispute now involving recognition, questionable terminations, union-busting and alleged violations of both local and international labour laws and conventions. GAWU has been hesitant to enter into this union-company impasse for a number of reasons even though GAWU did express a guarded opinion at the outset of the problem.

However, GAWU is now constrained, as a matter of principle and solidarity, to express this single simple view: that the Minister of Labour should reconsider his previous and current indifference with respect to this issue. GAWU agrees with those who have quoted the laws which provide the Minister with the authority to intervene. Section 4 of the Trade Union Recognition Act is instructive in the regard. Of course, no company or employer has any authority to “de-recognise” a duly recognized bargaining agent; that is the sole prerogative of the country’s Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board. GAWU cannot stand by when Collective Labour Agreements are being flouted EVEN IF WE HAVE AN OPEN MIND ON THE NEW THINKING OF THE AFFECTED WORKERS THEMSELVES.

Despite the perception by some that sugar workers are somehow a favoured lot we in GAWU know much differently and realize that the Labour Minister’s laxity could also make our members victims one day. We, therefore, join the call for Minister Manzoor Nadir to shoulder his responsibilities in this issue.