Dear Editor,
Arising from the ultimatum given to Oldendorff Carriers by the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GW) to take industrial action unless the company comes to the bargaining table with an appropriate offer for increased wages and improved working conditions, workers have reported to the union that management has been engaging them and has stated that if they strike, their contracts for 2011 will not be renewed. The union sees this as a clear threat to the workers and a violation of their constitutional and legal rights. The union has written to the company bringing to its attention this recent development and lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Labour.
Instead of threatening, Oldendorff should be moving to negotiate workers’ wages and conditions, correct the accounting deficiencies and pay the workers the 2009 bonus.
Workers are being advised not to be intimidated and to stand strong for what is justly theirs, since their labour has a value and the conditions under which they work have to be conducive, and in both instances they must be respected and honoured.
Yours faithfully,
Leslie Gonsalves
President
GB&GWU
