Russian Embassy here must be called to account over Rusal’s behaviour

Dear Editor,

The Guyanese nation and governments since independence have demonstrated an open-handed policy in relation to foreign investments, to facilitate economic and social development. Guyana welcomes companies and business from any country, regardless of that country‘s ideology or governance system. But our hospitality in this regard is being abused and challenged by the uncivilised industrial relations practices of the Russian bauxite company, Rusal, owned by Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI).

Rusal fired 60 workers who were engaged in strike action against the company’s imposition of a 1% increase in wages, and its management’s refusal to recognise the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) as the workers’ union of choice. The government was forced to intervene in the interest of the workers, the country ‘s labour laws and the constitution. Rusal’s arrogance and insensitivity continued even after its management officials met with a high-level government team that insisted that the workers be reinstated and the country’s labour laws and constitution respected. The company’s management responded in its customary barbaric way, dismissing 30 more workers. No self-respecting nation can fail to take appropriate action against this renegade company and its management.

My earlier letter on Rusal’s dismissal of the 60 employees was published in the Stabroek News ( Feb 21, 2019) captioned, `It is now a national imperative that gov’t takes a stand in the interest of Rusal workers’ and in the Guyana Chronicle (Feb 22, 2019) captioned, `Rusal top management must be charged for violating labour laws’. I indicated that my intention was not to politicise this industrial dispute.

However, the new dismissals which occurred after the arrival of a senior official from Rusal’s parent company, brings into question the industrial relation practices in the Russian Federation and the political culture of that nation.

It is public knowledge that foreign embassies in any country facilitate both the political and economic interest of their countries of origin. In this respect, the Russian Embassy in Guyana is no exception, and must be called to account. Guyanese are questioning the kind of advice, or lack thereof being given to the management of Rusal and its parent company by Russian diplomats present in Guyana. It is obvious that Rusal’s reckless behaviour is nothing short of a national disgrace for the Russian Federation.

Bearing in mind that the Russia of today is not the USSR that had proclaimed itself the vanguard of workers’ interest at home and abroad, the world still expects that nation and its business enterprises to show respect for workers’ rights, and to do so despite its newfound “love” for capitalism.

The new forces in control of Russia must be conscious that Russian capital is in competition with that of other countries worldwide and Guyana and the Caribbean is part of that reality.

Rusal as a representative of Russian capital with its history of gross disregard for Guyanese workers and laws and contempt for our government, is acting in a manner that is inimical to the interests and image of the Russian Federation and President Putin.

Yours faithfully, Tacuma Ogunseye