Submitted Guyana Bauxite General Workers Union

The Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) is concerned and disturbed by President Jagdeo’s statements made at the Police Officer’s Conference and carried in Stabroek News Feb. 13 2010 The President reaction to the current dispute between the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc/RUSAL and the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union is yet another conformation of the workers allegation that management has been saying to them that the workers have the union and the company has the government. It is hard evidence as to the hostile position taken by the government towards Bauxite workers, and supported, if not advocated by the President and by extension the People’s Progressive Party that we were all lead to believe were working class in orientation. In seeking to deny bauxite workers justice President Jagdeo made reference to prevailing economic realities facing RUSAL and the world but fails to relate this to the plight of bauxite workers eeking out a daily living under harsh, unsafe conditions. President Jagdeo supports his arguments by mentioning RUSAL closure of mines in other countries but from information accessed in the Financial Times (Dec. 31, 2009) RUSAL said its net profit in 2009 is “unlikely to be less than $434m.” Further President Jagdeo ignores the fact that the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc (BCGI) which the Government of Guyana is part-owner is yet to open its financial records to the Union and public and as such no determination can be made of BCGI’s economic reality.

In January 2009 when GB&GWU started negotiations for wage increase the company said at the time it was unable to meet the demand for pay increase given economic indicators on the world market. The Union and company, together, agreed that they would write the President and request his involvement in the re-instatement of tax-free overtime pay in lieu of a demand for a pay increase from the company. This was a benefit earned by Bauxite workers and enjoyed also by Sugar workers. The PPP government has however stopped the benefit to Bauxite workers even as Sugar workers continue to enjoy tax free overtime and periodic wage increases in a sector plagued by uncertainty and financial overburden. It is President Jagdeo’s refusal to respond to the requests (two) by the Union and BCGI (a act confirmed by Mohammed Akeel in his letter dated Jan. 28, 2010), that caused the Union to return to the employer and primary source of negotiations, with no alternative but to restate its demand for improved wages. The President should explain to bauxite workers and this nation why he has deliberately ignored joint efforts between BCGI and the union to reinstate a benefit that was previously enjoyed and that is still being enjoyed by sugar workers. President Jagdeo owes this nation an explanation why he has turned to offer support to sugar workers and is prepared to throw bauxite workers to the wolves? These actions are seen as counter- productive, economically aggressive and an attempt to destroy bauxite workers, their union and the communities surrounding them.

Note is taken of the President’s dereliction of his primary duty to serve and protect the country, its laws and people when he cautions the union in their struggle to stand up for what is right and fails to caution the company for breaching the laws of the country and the rights of Guyanese citizens to economic sustenance. Justifying the company’s illegal actions, premised on economics, ignores the laws and the fact that workers have to address their economic reality via their labour, which has a value, and even more so given escalating market conditions confronting them daily. Further, the 57 workers who were wrongfully dismissed have to also confront their economic realities and loss of livelihood. The economic reality of the company is equally important as the economic reality of the worker and in a unionized environment this is addressed at the negotiation table. The Union is currently confronting BCGI’s refusal to do so and being aided by the Ministry of Labour with its refusal to act consistent with the labour laws and time-honoured industrial principles.

If President Jagdeo is serious as he “stressed that his administration is not anti-union” then he must act now to stop the violations meted out against GB&GWU and workers of BCGI. If President Jagdeo is to be believed he must first respond to the two letters sent by the Union and company, early last year, seeking his intervention to reinstate tax-free overtime pay. Further he must reinstate this to show that Bauxite workers are no less deserving of this benefit than sugar workers since this benefit was enjoyed previously by both sectors under the PNC (Note- this benefit was fought for by bauxite workers but granted by a PNC government to both the bauxite and sugar industries). Doing this would allow for bauxite workers to have a better take home pay and would bring the necessary relief to the company if indeed the President is really concerned about the company’s viability and sustainability in Guyana. Additionally, as Head of Government the President does not need an invitation to intervene to ensure that the Minister of Labour executes his legal responsibility to resolve the dispute which is now three-month old and counting. He should do this in the interest of the economic well being of the citizens of his country and ensure the respect of the laws of the country.