| … With no end in sight to crisisBy Leonard GildarieRUSAL’s Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), whose mine sites at Aroaima and Kwakwani are faced with a two-week old strike with no end in sight,Cheap MLB Jerseys, is set to unilaterally announce a possible pay increase by tomorrow.AFC’s Chairman and RUSAL workers on Tuesday at the Prime Minister’s office, Kingston, yesterday.The company, yesterday, also said that an estimated 90 per cent of its employees are back to work in day and night shifts.“Over the last five shifts the production targets were surpassed and there is greater stability in the workforce. Once again, management would like to acknowledge the loyalty and courage of those workers who continue to support the company and safeguard our collective livelihoods,Jose Iglesias Tigers Jersey,” RUSAL said in the invited statement to Kaieteur News.The announcement came even as around 40 employees on Tuesday picketed the office of Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who has the responsibilities for mining in Guyana.“Announcements on payment of bonuses and increase in wages and salaries (by unilateral and voluntary decision of company) are expected to be made by Friday (tomorrow), to allow preparation of pay-packets in time for Christmas holidays,” the company explained. “Management is computing the financial losses suffered by the company during this illegal strike and will make this public once done.”On Tuesday, former Chief Magistrate, Juliet Holder-Allen, and Chairman of Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan joined with the workers and their union, Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GBWU).In a released letter sent by the union to RUSAL on Monday, GBGWU said that as a measure of good faith, the union is prepared to continue negotiations,JuJu Smith-Schuster College Jersey, despite the “undesirable conduct” of the company.“As a consequence you are put on immediate notice that GBGWU is prepared and available to discuss Terms of Resumption as it relates to that of all employees…including those unlawfully and vindictively dismissed and suspended.”So far the union said that more than 80 employees have been dismissed for striking.“For clarity, the union position is that legally no employee has been dismissed or suspended and as such those who were issued with letters are considered to be on strike and on resumption they will return to work.”The union said that it is prepared to meet with RUSAL’s management as early as today.Meanwhile, the union’s General Secretary (Ag), Leslie Gonsalves,Cheap Jerseys NFL, said that so far, the company, which has bauxite mining operations in Kwakwani and Aroaima,Danny Salazar Indians Jersey, Berbice, has fired all the shop stewards of the union.Working conditions and relations have deteriorated to a point that “black clothes” police are in the work sites harassing workers, Gonsalves said.The letter also told RUSAL that it has no authority to terminate the Collective Labour Agreement between the union and the company.Last Saturday, RUSAL, which operates under Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc.(BCGI), announced that more than 200 of the almost 600 employees who were on strike have returned and work has resumed in some sections of operations at Kwakwani and Aroaima.A statement from RUSAL had said that on Friday,Zach LaVine UCLA Jersey, mining personnel restarted operations in Kwakwani and Aroaima.“At 3:30pm the drying plant was turned on, despite some attempts by misguided residents of Ladernville to interrupt production.”However, President of the Guyana Bauxite and Workers’ Union (GBWU), Charles Sampson, had said that from their information it could be that a “few supervisors” may have been used to start the operations since the workers are just refusing to work until they hear about their salary increase.Sampson was of the opinion that it was RUSAL’s tactic to attract workers back to the worksite.With many of the workers living in the Linden environs, he said that buses were leaving virtually empty to the work sites.According to RUSAL, its management hopes to stabilise the production and restore normalcy within the near future, after which it will proceed to make payments for its obligations to workers (Monthly Production Bonus, Safety Bonus etc). “Management is also exploring all options to enhance the year end pay-packet.”On November 22, workers at RUSAL’s operations at Aroaima and Kwakwani downed tools after talks for wages’ increase broke down. |
