WPA
Press Release
Working People's Alliance
Rodney House
80 Croal Street
Georgetown, Guyana
Tel/Fax: 592-2-53679
WPA PRESS STATEMENT
WPA PRESS RELEASE - ANOTHER TYRANNICAL ACT BY RUSAL/BCGI AGAINSTY GUYANESE WORKERS
December 31st. 2011
It has come to the attention of the WPA that the Russian conglomerate, RUSAL, which owns 95% of and operates the Berbice Bauxite Company, BCGI, has now launched an attack against another segment of its work force, the local senior staff.
WPA has been reliably informed that at a recent meeting, BCGI, through its Industrial Relations Adviser, former Guyana Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel, has notified workers that it will be taking away their vacation allowance which has been an integral part of the Compensation Package in their Contact of Employment with BCGI since 2006.
At the meeting alluded to above, which was attended by the Personnel Officer, Elena Gorshkova, Mohamed Akeel advanced the argument that the Clause in the Contract which obligates BCGI to pay a Vacation Allowance of one month's pay to eligible workers, is in violation of the Laws of Guyana and will be withdrawn forthwith. The affected workers have been told that a new Contract will be prepared and given to them and the Contracts must be signed and returned within ONE WEEK or they will be terminated.
It is very clear that Mohamed Akeel is fully aware that the Conditions of a Contract of Employment cannot be arbitrarily varied by an employer. If an employer chooses to do so what that employer is in fact doing is terminating the employee. What is now emerging is that BCGI, in the face of the Government of Guyana's intransigence in relation to its vicious actions against the 57 workers it illegally dismissed in November 2009, now feels emboldened to extend its viciousness to another segment of its worker. Hence its use of intimidatory measures to get its way.
RUSAL's anti-union high-handedness no doubt derives from its well established habit of ignoring the weakened trade unions in Russia where rampant privatization has reduced the once powerful trade union movement to irrelevance."
WPA wishes to urge the Government of Guyana, which owns the remaining 5% of BCGI, to INTERVENE IMMEDIATELY and put a stop to RUSAL/BCGI's high handed and aggressive behaviour to Guyanese workers. We hope that the new Minister of Labour, Nanda Gopaul, will, unlike his predecessor, be more proactive in relation to protecting the Rights of Guyanese workers.
WPA also calls on all Guyanese to support the workers against the tyranny of RUSAL/BCGI.