The Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) calls on the Government to implement arbitration between the Union and the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) consistent with the Labour Laws, Chap 98:01.
“This is long overdue. This last stage for the establishment of the Arbitration Tribunal was reached before the country went to the General and Regional Elections in March 2020, and since the Donald Ramotar administration in March 2012. The dispute has now spanned four administrations,” the Union said in a statement Wednesday.
According to the GB&GWU, successive governments, some more than most, have ignored the plight of the bauxite workers. The Union maintained that though administrations change, the Government of Guyana and laws remain constant and therefore accountable.
“Government must settle this dispute now through arbitration,” it said noting that even as bauxite workers continue to fight against successive administrations for the Rule of Law to be upheld that would respect Guyana’s sovereignty and the rights of its working class, a stark comparison can be made with what is happening in London, United Kingdom (UK) with RUSAL.
“In the UK, RUSAL and Oldendorff- the company responsible for the transshipment of bauxite from the Aroaima site to the deep-sea vessels- are at arbitration. The arbitration is about RUSAL/BCGI violation of its contract with Oldendorff. Oldendorff is a German company
RUSAL/BCGI clearly cannot play the shenanigans in the UK but is clearly willing to disrespect Guyana’s laws and its people under the watchful eyes of successive governments. This is a shame and indictment on Guyana but it will not be so on the GB&GWU which is prepared and willing to go the distance for as long as it takes,” the Union stated.
Further, the GB&GWU said the rights of the workers must be protected and Guyana’s sovereignty must remain inviolable.
“It is not the law that is preventing settlement of this dispute, it is lack of will demonstrated by various political directorates,” the Union said in its statement adding that many reasons have been posited why successive governments have not acted.
The Union has experienced difficulties with all administrations seemingly unwilling to relate to the Union at all levels of leadership.
“|Oldendorff arbitration with BCGI/RUSAL in London fuels GB&GWU’s fight for the same in Guyana. The Union calls on the government to stop making the people of Guyana and bauxite workers sacrificial lambs at the behest or to the benefit of expatriate companies or their own seemingly narrow-minded political agenda. GB&GWU reiterates the call for arbitration now.
The Government of Guyana must uphold Guyana’s laws and its industrial time-honoured principles. Society must join with the workers in holding the Government accountable to the discharge of its duty,” the Union declared.
