Respect the labour laws – Minister Keith Scott

GINA, GUYANA, Monday, October 24, 2016

Reports that the Russian controlled Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) has been pressuring workers to sign a document derecognizing the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) as their union have come to the attention of Minister Keith Scott. He said the government will not condone “union busting.”

Scott, who is a Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, has responsibility for labour matters.

“This thing has a process, we have laws, it has to be respected. As long as I am here I have no problem with the negotiating and conciliating between the union and workers and employers but I would not countenance any union busting, any law breaking and not in any way can we allow workers to continue suffering,” Scott told the Government Information Agency, at his Brickdam Office, today.

The minister said workers’ right to choose their representative must be respected and workers only, must decide without being coerced, who should represent them.

“If there is any attempt to derecognise the union I would view that as union busting. I would not look kindly on such a course of action,” the minister with responsibility for labour said.

The call by BCGI for workers to derecognise the GB&GWU comes as part of an ongoing feud between the Bauxite Company and the workers’ union dating back to 2009 when more than fifty workers were dismissed from the company.

Since taking office Scott had advised the bauxite company to prepare a severance package for the dismissed workers and also to reengage with the Union.

 

 

By. Kidackie Amsterdam