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The country’s largest trade union,LSU Tigers Jerseys, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), has joined the calls for swift resolution to the current impasse between bauxite workers and RUSAL.Additionally,Odell Beckham LSU Jersey, the Union is urging Minister of Labour,Tom Brady Michigan Jersey, Manzoor Nadir, to shoulder his responsibility on the issue.GAWU,Lamar Jackson Louisville Jersey, which says it represents almost 22,000 workers across the country, has largely been silent on the ongoing standoff which started in December and saw 50-odd union representatives being dismissed.GAWU,Andre Johnson Miami Jersey, in a statement yesterday, said that it wished to place on record its views on the current months-long industrial dispute involving the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc. (BCGI)/RUSAL.“What started out as the Union’s simple but fundamental demand for increased wages and the re-instatement of a certain type of overtime pay, later blossomed into a prolonged dispute now involving recognition, questionable terminations,Trey Burke Michigan Jersey, union-busting and alleged violations of both local and international labour laws and conventions.”GAWU stressed that it has been hesitant to comment on the impasse for a number of reasons even though the Union did express a “guarded opinion” at the outset of the problem.“However, GAWU is now constrained, as a matter of principle and solidarity, to express this single simple view that the Minister of Labour should reconsider his previous and current indifference with respect to this issue. GAWU agrees with those who have quoted the laws which provide the Minister with the authority to intervene. Section 4 of the Trade Union Recognition Act is instructive in the regard.”Of course,Skal Labissiere Kentucky Jersey, no company or employer has any authority to “de-recognise” a duly recognised bargaining agent, GAWU acknowledged. That is the sole prerogative of the country’s Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board.“GAWU cannot stand by when Collective Labour Agreements are being flouted.”The Union said that despite the perception by some that sugar workers are somehow a “favoured lot, we in GAWU know much differently and realise that the Labour Minister’s laxity could also make our members victims one day. We,Willis McGahee Miami Jersey, therefore, join the call for Minister Manzoor Nadir to shoulder his responsibilities in this issue.”The Peoples’ National Congress Reform (PNCR) has filed a no-confidence motion in Parliament against Minister Nadir for failing to use his authority to resolve the impasse.The Alliance For Change party (AFC) recently said that it will be supporting the motion.Last year, working relations between the GB&GWU and BCGI deteriorated after negotiations, for a wage increase and between working conditions failed.Late last year,Cheap Jerseys Authentic, BCGI prior to a meeting with the Chief Labour Officer, had handed a letter to union officials signaling intentions to “de-recognise” it.This was amidst strike actions by workers. The matter has since landed before the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board, since it is being argued that the company does not have the authority to sever relations with the Union.Returning workers were unilaterally handed pay increase by BCGI in December, days before Christmas.Several Unions in the region and even from the US have criticised the situation. |
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