Dear Editor,
The Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) has been recognized by the Trade Union Recognition Board by a certificate issued on February 28, 2007 to represent workers employed at Linden Electricity Inc (LEI), a company owned by the Government of Guyana. The Chairman of the LEI Board is Carvil Duncan, Chairman of FITUG and General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union. The GB&GWU, on three separate occasions, submitted negotiation proposals to the company and also wrote reminders to that effect, yet the company refuses to engage the union. The workers of LEI are being denied their right to collective bargaining and the GB&GWU the right to negotiate on their behalf. On December 4, 2010 at a meeting summoned by the management the workers reported to the union that they were addressed by Carvil Duncan and were told that the company has not, and will not, recognize the GB&GWU. The union has since written the Trade Union Recognition Board after failing to get the Ministry of Labour to act.
This letter serves to put Mr Duncan on notice that the battle has now commenced for the upholding of the rights of the LEI workers. His continued failure to act in respect of these rights consistent with the Trade Union Recognition Law Chapter 98:07, Section 23 (2) will see me personally mounting a picketing exercise outside the Guyana Labour Union’s office to bring to the world’s attention the transgressions being committed against workers by one who masquerades as a trade unionist.
Let me say that I will not remain silent and allow Mr Duncan to continue his transgressions, similar to those which have been committed against the workers at GPL who are members of NAACIE, which is an affiliate of FITUG. On Friday, January 28, I stood in front of the Private Sector Commission’s office in Waterloo Street when the NAACIE General Secretary reported to Norris Witter, President of the GTUC, the difficulties NAACIE is having with the management of GPL. In this conversation he said Mr Duncan (who was also present) is the GPL’s adviser on industrial relations matters. Mr Duncan is a director on the GPL Board.
Mr Duncan is obviously serving a master since his actions in relation to trade unionism and the workers’ rights are not in consonance with ILO conventions and the Laws of Guyana. He is advised that while it is his prerogative to choose freedom, this prerogative does not allow him to take away the freedoms and rights of another. The right to collective bargaining and freedom of association for the workers at LEI will be respected and Mr Duncan is put on notice that no effort will be spared to ensure same.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Mr Carvil Duncan for any comment he might wish to make.
