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Urgent…Help Guyanese Workers FIGHT INJUSTICE

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Submitted by Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU)

petitionDear friends of labor and supporters of justice for all in Guyana, Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) is asking that you join us in helping to protect workers’ rights and upholding Lawful practices in Guyana.

YOU CAN HELP BY:

1) SIGNING onto the Petition (http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=649) started by Labour first on 03/12/10. Your petition goes direct to the Minister of Labor, Mr. Manzoor Nadir.

2) FORWARDING this petition to every person and organization in your email address book.

3) PLACING THE WEBLINK ON YOUR WEBSITE. To do this, just copy and paste the following line of code to a webpage and see what happens.

4) ADVERTISE the petition on your broadcast programs and run a strip advertisement on your television programs. (A contribution to the struggle that we say thanks for).

In addition you can start

5) LOBBYING, RusAL, BCGI, Human Rights, Political Parties and pressure groups directly on the behalf of GB&GWU.

GB&GWU can be found on Facebook as Guyana Bauxite. You can also post a message on the wall directly from: http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.labourstart.org/cgibin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=649

Act NOW!

Guyana: Stop union-busting – respect workers rights

57 trade union leaders of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GBGWU) were summarily sacked, without recourse, in late 2009 when miners at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) went on strike. BCGI is 90% owned by the Russian aluminium company RusAl and 10% by the government of Guyana.

The company gave 600 miners the choice of accepting one of three bargaining proposals, and when miners voted to accept management’s least desired offer, BCGI terminated its collective bargaining relationship with GBGWU and fired the union’s leaders for strike activity that was caused by this collective bargaining charade.

Subsequently, BCGI has used coercion, intimidation, and fear to get workers remaining on the job to sign a deauthorization petition in order to decertify GBGWU. RusAl and BCGI managers have held captive meetings in which they used threats and intimidation to get workers to sign the petition and to turn away from their long-time union.

Such actions are flagrant violations of core labour standards, and the GBGWU is requesting that labour activists worldwide register that complaint directly with Guyana’s Minister of Labour. The message is that he halts this employer-perpetrated, union destroying initiative immediately.

Thanks for the support and solidarity.

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4 responses to “Urgent…Help Guyanese Workers FIGHT INJUSTICE”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    There was the recent report in the Guyana press highlighted by columnist Freddie Kissoon about a secret delegation of Guyanese who visited the White House to voice concerns about atrocities being perpetrated in Guyana. What has been the outcome? Are there opposition parties in Guyana?

  2. David Avatar
    David

    Press Release

    Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union

    March 13, 2010

    Time to take a stand! Workers’ right and laws are under attack in Guyana and the Government, NAACIE, Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board, and RUSAL/BCGI must stop their transgressions.

    The impasse between the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) having entered its fourth month with a seeming unwillingness by the Ministry of Labour to execute its legal responsibility to bring about a resolution is of grave concern. The Union has written several letters to the parties (ministry and company) to commence discussion consistent with the labour laws and collective labour agreement and is yet to see any action on the government’s part. Two weeks ago General Secretary (ag.), Leslie Gonsalves, called the office of the Chief Labour Officer (CLO) to inquire into the matters before the ministry for conciliation between the company and union and was advised the CLO is on leave. When an officer proceeds on leave someone acts for him because the work must go.

    Following on the government’s inaction the company has since instructed workers to attend a meeting on the evening of Wednesday, 10th March 2010 at Aroaima convened by the National Association of Agricultural Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE). The workers are resisting this recent attempt to deny them their rights and did not turn up for the meeting but were told their absence and refusal to sign the prepared form requesting NAACIE be their union will not prevent NAACIE from representing them since that is the union of the company’s choice and they have the support of the government. This clear violation of worker’s rights, conventions, laws and acts of bullyism by RUSAL/BCGI in collaboration with the Government and NAACIE is another manifestation of the subversion of democratic values and the orchestrated program to destroy independent and democratic institutions in the society. The union did request and had engagement in January with the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board, chaired by its Chairman, Justice Prem Persaud, and was subsequently advised that the Board informed the company that the GB&GWU is the official bargaining agent for the workers at BCGI and until the Board has certified a new union the company will have to deal with the GB&GWU. It is therefore disturbing that the company is flouting the position of the Board and is taking measures in contravention of the Trade Union Recognition Act, Chapter 98:07. What is even more disturbing is that a union (NAACIE) that claims to be championing the rights of workers is now in an alliance to deny workers their rights in pursuit of narrow political agenda.

    GB&GWU has since taken a decision to intensify the struggle by embarking on a worldwide petition in collaboration with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), the global federation, and Labour Start, seeking support from friends of labor and supporters of justice to register their complaint to the Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir. The petition addresses the wrongful dismissal of workers; violations of international conventions; and the company’s coercive, intimidating, forceful and illegal acts to de-recognise the union. The message is that the Minister halts this employer-perpetrated, union destroying initiative immediately.

    Law abiding citizens are encouraged to Act NOW! by signing onto the Petition at http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=649 or http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.labourstart.org/cgibin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=649

    Since the campaign commenced on March 12, 2010, within 24 hour, over 800 letters were sent to the Minister, from as far as Australia, Pakistan, India, USA, Japan, United Kingdom, Turkey, Sweden, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Caribbean and Ukraine, by organizations such as the America Federation of Labour-Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO), British Trade Union Congress, Federación Trabajadores Pasteleros, Industrial Workers of the World, unions, rights organization, universities, students bodies, interest groups and individuals. The petition is now in English, French and Dutch and translation into other languages is currently in process in order to widen the campaign.

    It’s time to take a stand! Workers’ right and laws are under attack in Guyana and the Government, NAACIE, Trade Union Recognition & Certification Board and RUSAL/BCGI must stop their transgressions.

  3. juan gabriel Avatar
    juan gabriel

    Fined $4.9M
    March 27, 2010 | By KNews | Filed Under News

    Joel Alert, a 35-year-old barber of 35 Canefield Village, East Canje, Berbice, has been fined $4.9M and sent to jail for five years for trafficking in narcotics. Failure to pay the fine would lead him to a further ten months in jail.
    He was charged for possession of narcotics for the purposes of trafficking after police found 1.8 kilograms of marijuana in his house.
    He pleaded guilty on Thursday when he appeared before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo.
    According to the facts presented by prosecutor Roberto Figuiera, the police acting on information swooped down on the man’s home and met him in his yard.
    They then told him of their suspicion and subsequently searched the two-storey building. During their search in the kitchen they found a green, grey and black haversack in which was a taped parcel.
    When the parcel was opened the ranks found compressed marijuana. Before being sentenced the man reportedly said he was sorry and asked the magistrate for leniency.

    This is a case of blatant marginalization and can be considered a racist act. There are many criminals being protected by the Jagdeo administration. Why is the government not permitting the extradition of the real DRUG SMUGGLERS?

  4. Onica Timmerman Avatar
    Onica Timmerman

    Odinga Lumumba dirty business mixed with politics

    Odinga Lumumba

    Ignatius Timmerman is fighting for his life. The mining claims he operated in the Mariwa area are now under threat and even the authorities seem bent on bowing to pressure being applied by an individual who is laying claim to some of the concessions. Timmerman, who spent his early years at Bartica, Essequibo, entered the goldfields as a youth and worked those claims with the previous owner. Later he bought the claims and has been working on them ever since. His problems began when Odinga Lumumba, who has formed a consortium with Grantley Walrond, former Commissioner, began to lay claims to his property.

    By letter dated July 21, last, Lumumba wrote to Commissioner, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, William Woolford, contending that “there are several illegal claims on the Mariwa projects within the PL area as certified by GGMC.”

    The letter continued,

    “I will appreciate if you can take steps to put a halt to these operations pending resolution. I am sure that you are aware that the PL goes back to 1991 and that any claims in the name of Ignatius Timmerman that were issued in 1993 or after 1991 would be illegal.”

    “This is a very serious development which can result in legal actions including compensation requirements from GGMC and Timmerman.”

    “I anticipate that you would stop Mr Timmerman’s operations within 72 hours pending resolution of this issue.”

    This, according to Timmerman, is an abuse of power and an attempt to steal his property.

    “I am the legal owner of a few claims in the Mariwa area since 1991.The claims have been published in the official Gazette.
    “I have sold all my gold to the Guyana Gold Board since 1991. Lo and behold I have now been told that I am on Mr. Odinga Lumumba`s land.”

    Timmerman has since moved to the courts but he said that even that action is being ignored by the GGMC.
    The Court action which is in effect an injunction granted to Timmerman, orders that the status quo remains, that Timmerman continues to operate as before. However, GGMC issued a cease order to Timmerman, which the Bartica miner continues to ignore but at the same time, he is afraid to work given the threats being leveled at him.

    “Since August I have been unable to work because of a cease work order issued by the
    GGMC. What am I to do? I have commitments to the bank. I have a family and workers who have dependents. “This situation is putting a strain on me financially.”

    He said that what is even more painful is the fact that

    “Mr. Lumumba and cohorts are trespassing on my claims by cutting lines and planting flags on the land.”

    He says that these actions amount to contempt of the court. The law states that any person who commits contempt is guilty of an offence. The penalty for an individual is a $250,000 fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months.

    Sent from Onica Timmeman

    Fighting for my father using legal and moral authority.

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