Govt reaffirms commitment to RUSAL workers
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgMyJDtx-M” width=”100%” height=”315″]
─ government will not be accepting the RUSAL’s conditions
─ will go to the lengths and will explore the options
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to stand by workers dismissed by United Company Russian Aluminum (RUSAL).
Following a meeting with RUSAL’s Director of Aluminum and Bauxite Department, Vladimir Permyakov on Tuesday, Minister Ally met with representatives from the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union where she updated them on the status of affairs.
During the meeting held at her Lamaha Street office, the Social Protection Minister expressed her extreme dissatisfaction with the way the Russian company is operating and stated that it will not be tolerated by the government.
The Social Protection Minister told the union representatives that it was indicated to RUSAL that government will not be accepting the conditions they put forward for reinstating the dismissed workers.
“Government will not accept what is presently existing and I did indicate to them that we will go to the lengths, we will explore the options and we are going to have to make a decision on this matter,” Minister Ally relayed.
President of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union, Lincoln Lewis suggested an examination of the company’s mining license be conducted, to ensure they are complying with the stipulated conditions.
Lewis further cited chapter 98:01 (4) of the Labour Laws which gives the Minister authority to put in place arbitration proceedings. According to him from 2009 to present, RUSAL failed to engage the union.
“We are requesting that you do that dating back to the issues commencing from 2009 because that gives you a backdrop under the law that they refused to engage the union over that period,” the Union President said.
Minister Ally confirmed that an examination of the company’s license is currently being discussed.
The Government of Guyana and the foreign owned company – RUSAL, are currently at loggerheads over 61 workers who were unjustifiably dismissed. The Government had sought to engage the Russian company on two occasions, the most recent being on Tuesday, February 26, 2019.
That meeting was a follow up to a prior meeting after which it was expected that the workers would be reinstated. However, RUSAL’s representatives indicated on Tuesday that they will not be reinstating those workers but rather have them reapply and sign a new labour contract. An act Minister Ally told the management of RUSAL is unreasonable and an unthinkable position on the matter.
The company has a track record of dismissing employees. Back in November 2009, 57 workers were dismissed from Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) after a strike for increased pay and safer working conditions, closed the Aroaima and Kwakwani sites. In 2010 five Rusal employees were fired after a fallout over poor meals at the company’s Aroaima work site
Also present at today’s meeting were Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott and Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle.
Anara Khan.
Images: Amir Sattaur.