Opposition Leader Robert Corbin has written to Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir “over his failure to carry out his constitutional duty to intervene in the dispute between the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and RUSAL’s Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc.”
The PNCR, in its weekly press conference held yesterday at Congress Place, stated that the Minister has so far refused to intervene in a matter “that can set unacceptable precedents for the industrial relations climate in Guyana.” The party has accused the company of breaching the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) and Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board Act when it announced it was derecognizing the union.
The party noted that the union has since taken their case to the Ethnic Relations Commission and Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board but emphasised that this was not a substitute for the functions of the Labour Minister as required under the laws of the country.
At the press conference a call was made for “Minister Nadir to carry out his constitutional responsibility and intervene in the interest of the Bauxite workers.”
The impasse between the union and the bauxite company began in November when the workers went on strike for increased pay closing down the Aroaima and Kwakwani sites. The company then moved to terminate the CLA and indicated its intention to derecognize the union. Since then, the company has resumed its operations even as more than 50 workers-including the union’s leaders were dismissed.
