Bauxite strike over

THE bitter two-week derecognition strike in the bauxite industry was called off yesterday, after officials from the two affected unions and Guymine executives agreed on terms of resumption after two days of talks at Linden.

“We are resuming immediately and will meet again in 48 hours to iron out some other issues, according to the terms. Both sides are hoping for a restoration of good relations in the industry,” Guyana Mine Workers’ Union (GMWU) Secretary Lincoln Lewis told Stabroek News yesterday.

The strike, which at one stage looked as if it would drag on for some time because both sides seemed unwilling to compromise positions, was triggered by the company’s decision to sever relations with the unions following their participation in the FITUG-sponsored oneday protest strike on February 24. Guymine claimed the unions acted irresponsibly.

Now Guymine will resume deducting union dues for the GMWU and the Guyana Bauxite Supervisors’ Union (GBSU), continue to recognise executives as the bona fide representatives of the nearly 5,000 workers and proceed to further discuss the controversial warning letters issue and the repossession of the GMWU canteen at Everton. Attempts to contact Guymine officials for further details were unsuccessful.

“We are meeting again on these two issues,” Lewis said immediately after the talks at Guymine’s Surapana Club,

Throughout the strike, Guymine claimed it was largely a failure, but the unions conceded a large worker turnout only at Linden.