Ateral 1% wages hike
ew months has doubled its aily production. “They have oubled since they got the anctions lifted. We are now roducing between 1.5 barge, which carries about 3,200 onnes, to 3 barges within 24 ours,” the worker said.
He noted that while mangement has indicated that the ompany is not able to pay efty wage increases, it ecently invested in 13 Caterpillar 777 trucks. “One f those trucks cost nearly a 120 million and they are elling us they are not making profit,” he lamented.
It was further explained hat workers are not being aid their overtime allowances nd are only given $300 for meal allowances if they work hrough their break.
“They [management] are elling us that they are paying s well but they are calculatng the money to outside on he road. In here, it is considred the interior because we re in Kwakwani backdam nd things are extremely xpensive and they are not eeing that,” he said, while ointing out that their living onditions are poor.
He stated that both the past nd the present governments ave failed to intervene to ddress their situation. It was urther claimed that management has been attempting to ntimidate workers by threatning dismissal. “Three times yesterday persons from management came around with different letters telling us what would happen if we don’t work… they have been trying to intimidate us but we will not be accepting that,” the man said.
The union in its statement said that it stands in solidarity with the workers in the exercise of their basic rights and for the upholding of their attendant rights. “GB&GWU calls on all Guyanese to understand the struggles faced by these workers, to empathise with them, and to lend them your support,” it said, while also calling on the international community to stand with workers.
The continued violation of BCGI workers, the union said, “threatens multiple family units and the communities within which they reside. The threat to one is a threat to all; and injustice here is an injustice everywhere.”
The statement said Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle and other government officials have been informed of the industrial action. The union representative indicated to Stabroek News that officials have responded and promised to meet with them sometime today. The representative added that they will continue to protest until an agreement is reached between workers and management.