BCGI workers strike after unila

Close to 160 workers from the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) in Region Ten began striking yesterday to protest the company’s imposition of a one per cent hike in wages without collective bargaining.

A representative of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) told Stabroek News that the protest started on Friday morning with day shift workers from the mines and maintenance departments downing tools. At the end of their shift, they were joined by the night shift workers from the same departments.

Stabroek News was told that other workers are expected to join the industrial action today.

“We have never received any substantial form of increase from this company. After we saw the little increase yesterday [Thursday], we learnt of the one per cent increase and that is where we decided to down our tools. This shows the company doesn’t have any concern for us the workers,” the union representative said.

The GB&GWU yesterday issued a statement in which it claimed that workers were threatened with dismissal if they failed to return to work yesterday. “…all are reminded that since December 2009, under the noses of successive governments, BCGI has been engaged in a series of violation of the law and transgressing of the workers’ rights,” it said, while noting that the management continues to refuse to treat with the union.

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