Bauxite strike ends after agreement reached

-61 workers to be reinstated

Just over a month after a labour dispute erupted at the Russianowned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), the standoff has come to an end with the firm agreeing to reinstate 61 sacked workers and negotiate a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) with the workers’ union.

With the signing of an agreement between RUSAL-owned BCGI and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) yesterday, full operations are expected to restart soon. In a statement, RUSAL said that the agreement states that the workers will remove all obstacles across the Berbice river so as to allow vessels to resume navigation up and down the waterway, they will return to work and BCGI will reemploy all 61 dismissed workers.

“The agreement further outlines that within fourteen days of the full resumption of work, the parties will commence negotiation of a new collective labour agreement. This will be referred to in case of any further disputes, which may occur in the future,” the statement said.

In a separate statement, the GB&GWU added that the Terms of Resumption (ToR), “includes reinstatement of all 61 dismissed workers and those laid off during the dispute; no victimisation or change of conditions for the reinstated workers; no compensation for time not worked during the dispute; return of the check-off system; and clearing of the Berbice River.”

It also echoed RUSAL’s statement that within 14 days of the full resumption of work, the parties will commence negotiation of a new CLA.

This will be seen as a major victory for the union as the company has persistently refused to recognise it and the last CLA, which was due to run for three years, was signed in 2008 and expired in 2011.

This was not lost on the GB&GWU as it pointed out that the workers’ struggle, which began on 22nd November 2009, has ended after approximately nine years, three months, and 28 days. It pointed out that the recent industrial conflict which began from February 15th, ended after one month and four days yesterday with the signing of the ToR.

The industrial action by the workers started on February 15th after the company unilaterally imposed a one per cent increase in wages. Workers also cited other unaddressed issues, including BCGI’s unwillingness to recognise the union as the workers’ bargaining agent. Following the firing of scores of striking colleagues, workers strung oil barrels and jars on wires across the Berbice River, blocking the passage of barges leaving and entering the mining site at Aroaima, Berbice River. Facing pressure, the government intervened and subsequently the union and the company began a bilateral engagement which led to yesterday’s agreement.

The GB&GWU’s statement yesterday said that both parties have further agreed to recognise the sovereignty, Constitution and Laws of Guyana and neither shall act in contravention thereof. They also pledged to uphold the spirit and goodwill to which the ToR was negotiated and signed, and will do nothing to circumvent same.

While the new CLA is being negotiated, the union said, “The parties agreed that in the pursuit of a new CLA and in the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes, the procedure used for dealing with same in the old (former) CLA shall be utilised as an interim measure; and further agreed that all major issues which involve conditions of employment shall be addressed with a view to achieving resolution.”

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman yesterday expressed elation that the conflict was resolved and said it was demonstrative of what talks and compromise can result in. “I am happy that reason and compromise prevailed and that what appeared as