Submitted by Leslie Gonsalves General Secretary (ag) – GB&GWU
By circular dated 1st April, prepared by the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), workers of Aroiama and Kwakwani are being advised of a Workers Committee for them, headed by Orin Ford. This is yet another violation of the laws and an imposition on the workers by Management to determine or facilitate any acceptance of any group or committee of workers other than the recognized Bargaining unit of GB&GWU. As recent as March 25, 2010, Labour Minister, Manzoor Nadir, is reported in Kaieteur News acknowledging that the “Labour Occupational Safety and Health department does recognize the GB&GWU as the recognized union for the bargaining unit” for BCGI workers.
The efforts to coerce workers into establishing a Workers Committee (a defacto bargaining unit) by Mohamed Akeel, BCGI Labour Consultant, and the company’s Human Resources Manager commenced 18th March after the failed attempts to get the workers to sign up to have NAACIE replace the GB&GWU. For more than a decade Mohamed Akeel was this country’s Chief Labour Officer and Secretary of the Trade Union and Recognition Board. He knows his actions are illegal and in violation of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Act, Chapter 98:07, Section 23 (1), Compulsory recognition and duty to treat, which expressly states,
“Where a trade union obtains a certificate of recognition for workers comprised in a bargaining unit in accordance with this Part, the employer shall recognise the union, and the union and the employer shall bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with each other for the purpose of collective bargaining.”
No workers committee can replace the GB&GWU until and after such time as the GB&GWU is no longer the official recognized bargaining unit. This can only be done if or when the GB&GWU is derecognized by the TURB. Mr. Ford is advised not to allow himself to be used as Pontius Pilate or to be the new pawn in the ring to front the aggressive policies of BCGI and the Government of Guyana against his friends and colleagues of the Bauxite industry. Mr. Akeel and BCGI are reminded that the Certificate of Recognition between GB&GWU and BCGI, was signed on 26th July 2007, by he, Mohamed Akeel, as Secretary of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board. They both know that it is illegal to form and/or entertain a Workers Committee or any other such grouping to take the place of GB&GWU when the Recognition is in place. Minister Nadir acknowledged this recognition but fails to enforce same. Mr. Ford must remember that history will judge him and that he has responsibility to set an example of manhood, dignity, valour and pride for his children and grandchildren. He must remember that the struggles of our ancestors and those who laid their lives down for us to have better conditions of work were often betrayed by those who were naive, mislead, greedy, power seeking and self serving. Many such were discarded after they served the masters’ purpose and outlived their usefulness.
After five months, the inaction and refusal, by the Minister of Labour and the Chief Labour Officer, to intervene to resolve this matter that they know is in violation of the laws is nothing short of imposing conditions of life on workers that are reminiscence of an era when workers had no rights, no laws to protect them and the employer or Massa determined their existence, work and value. Guyanese have come a long way, having given of their blood, sweat and tears to ensure these sacred rights to association and choice are protected, to now have a foreign company in collusion with a government financed by the people, to revert them to conditions not of their choosing and in violation of the laws. If these discriminations are intended break the spirit and determination of the bauxite workers, they will not succeed. The Union shall not be deterred and will continue to explore its options to have the rights of these workers respected. Bauxite workers are no less deserving than sugar and any other workers in this country.
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