Dear Editor,
I refer to Stabroek News’ article, ‘Jagdeo slams gov’t treatment of Troy Resources’ (SN: 23/11/19), which addresses issues surrounding the company’s decision to terminate 300 plus workers on the pretext that it is not making money.
Sometime before the industrial death on 8th October of Ryan Taylor, who met his demise when the cover of a mine collapsed on him, the company via circular had informed workers that it cannot pay an increase in wages/salaries because it is not making money. This circular was a reaction to the written request by the union, the People’s United & General Workers Union (PUGWU), to engage in collective bargaining on wages/salary and other conditions of work consistent with the Collective Labour Agreement. The company has consistently refused to engage the union as to its ability or inability to meet workers’ demand for value in the selling of their labour. This practice has been going on for some years and is a matter of public record via the media.
After Taylor’s death, reportedly on the advice of the technicians (GGMC and OSHA), on 10th October, Keith Scott, junior minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, ordered the operation closed until further notice. On the 15th October, Minister Amna Ally, who heads the ministry, ordered the company to reopen its operation.
The reported statement of Mr Bharrat Jagdeo that “They [government] knew the company had cash flow problems. They knew this was coming but they are so incompetent they couldn’t deal with it…[and] it was clear that the company was already on the precipice and instead of mitigating the impact the problems would have on its workforce, government, through Scott, ‘pushed it over’,” has to be evaluated in the context of the aforesaid.
We can argue whether the advice given to the junior minister that informed his decision was wise and/or whether lifting the cease order by the senior was likewise, but such is beside the point to the status of the workers and the principle of collective bargaining. The situation of the workers at Troy is not dissimilar to that of the workers at GuySuCo, which is, an unwillingness by the management to respect the workers’ right to Collective Bargaining. Troy, like GuySuCo, is claiming to be experiencing financial constraints and cannot pay, but evidently Mr Jagdeo does not see the workers of Troy deserving of similar respect.
The Managing Director of Troy, Ken Nilsson claimed, “The minister’s response [a cease order] seemed more of a political agenda. It’s not a level playing field” (SN: 20/11/19). How this conclusion was arrived at seems clear now. This would also help to explain the mouthful a foreign manager had to say at a meeting held with workers after Taylor’s death and when government moved to hold the company accountable for safety practices.
The gold miners reported at the instant meeting that they were told by that manager that the government is illegal and dictatorial, and he doesn’t know why they don’t call the election and go. Thereafter, he rhetorically said, “What are they afraid of?” This is clearly a repeat of the opposition’s position.
So, three questions are being proposed to Mr Jagdeo:
1. Would a Jagdeo government have done differently to the incumbent as done on the 10th and 15th Oct? And if yes, what?
2. Would you condemn the refusal of Troy management to engage in conciliatory proceedings with the union as prescribed in the Avoidance and Settlement of Dispute Agreement?
3. Would you call on Managing Director Ken Nilsson to butt out of our domestic politics, obey the laws of Guyana and comply with agreements between the company and union?
As to the matter of severance pay to the gold miners, consistent with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, there is nothing to gloat about with Troy moving to effect pay immediately as against the coalition government that took two plus years to do so with sugar workers. For, according to that law, pay is expected immediately. Whereas the coalition erred and its conduct should not be countenanced, Mr Jagdeo can claim no purity for his administration refused said payment to laid off sugar workers of Diamond Estate. It was not until the issue was taken to court that his government was forced to honour the law.
I have not been silent on the treatment by GuySuCo management towards the sugar unions and likewise will not be silent on the treatment by Troy management towards the PUGWU. As a matter of fact, I refuse to be silent when the right of any worker is being transgressed for injustice anywhere presents a threat to justice everywhere.
What the extant issue is bringing clearly to the attention of the working class is the shamelessness of some politicians in advancing their self-serving agenda on our backs. It says to us that when we stand together on matters of universally acceptable principles, international conventions and laws, and stand up for our constitutionally guaranteed rights, they will know that they better come good lest we expose their double standards and political opportunism. It further emphasises why they fear our solidarity on matters of common interest and are ever so often seeking to place wedges between us. This type of politician can only function best when the working class is at odds amongst themselves.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
