Dear Editor,
I write representing a global union federation, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) based in Geneva, Switzerland, and I write to express concern over management conduct and the Labour Ministry’s woeful neglect in upholding national Guyanese laws and international labour standards in the long-running dispute between GB&GWU and the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI)
The ICEM has closely observed this dispute for six months, and now on the eve of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) annual International Labour Conference (ILC) here in Geneva, I feel compelled to speak out on the injustice that is occurring in Guyana, both by the government and by BCGI. The ILC is a global forum for the hearing of trade union rights abuses, as well as a forum to hear cases in which countries place restrictions on workers’ rights and ILO Conventions.
In 1966 and 1967, Guyana ratified two of the more prevalent Conventions, Number 98, the Right to Organise and the Collective Bargaining Convention, and Number 87, the Freedom of Association and Right to Organise Convention. I can truthfully state that, at present, Guyana does not adhere to the principles contained in these Conventions in the manner in which it is handling this situation.
Besides the fact that several sections of the Guyana’s national labour statutes have been abrogated, conduct considered detrimental to global labour standards include BCGI’s unilateral withdrawal of union recognition, its refusal to engage in dialogue related to collective bargaining issues or on matters concerning the dispute itself, and even worse, its manipulation inside the workplace against GB&GWU, and for an alternative union. Such interference violates both Conventions 87 and 98 and in most nations that have ratified these standards, a Labour Ministry would have stepped in and dealt severe sanctions to a violating employer.
In Guyana, we find that government officials have done nothing.
I do understand that recently Guyana’s Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board did conduct a hearing on the BCGI dispute and now seeks to move ahead on a ballot to determine whether or not miners want GB&GWU as their lawful representative. But several questions need answering. Can we be assured that managers will not continue their coercive and intimidating tricks? Will GB&GWU have access inside the workplaces and have an equal opportunity to convince workers that its longstanding representation is in their best interests? Will the election be free and transparent?
But perhaps the first question to be asked before balloting begins is will the Labour Ministry take up its duly-charged responsibilities and conduct investigations on the labour laws that have been flouted, and the workers’ and union rights abuses that have occurred?
There is little question that the entire BCGI/GB&GWU dispute is steeped in Guyanese politics. But for a country to be respectable and a society to be considered civil on the global level, an equal code of justice must prevail for all.
Yours faithfully,
Dick Blin
ICEM Information Officer
Geneva, Switzerland
