Weeks after bauxite workers downed tools at Bosai Mineral Group (Guyana) Inc., the company has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the National Association of Agricultural Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) to pay a 7% salary increase and other benefits.
Bosai employees proceeded to strike on October 21, 2021 over the company’s proposal to pay a 5.5% wages and salary increase, noting that they were paid a 6.5% increase in 2020 when the pandemic had almost crippled the sector. The workers demanded a 10% increase. The strike action crippled the company’s operations leading to the Ministry of Labour intervening and a Terms of Resumption was signed between Bosai and NAACIE indicating that there be no victimisation of employees.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Labour on Friday, the parties signed a MoA on Thursday. It says this agreement will see employees receiving wages and salary increases along with other benefits for the periods April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, and April 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. While the Ministry did not state the percentage of salary increase agreed on, General Secretary of NAACIE (Ag.), Ms. Karren Mapp told the Big Smith News Watch that the parties agreed on a 7% increase in wages and salaries.
The agreement comes after several conciliation sessions that were steered by the Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Dhaneshwar Deonarine in a bid to bring both parties to an amicable resolution, the Ministry said.
Thursday’s signing took place at the Ministry’s Lot 82 Brickdam, Georgetown head office, with representatives from both parties present. Representing BOSAI were Mr. Eric Yu, General Manager; Mr. George Zhou, General Manager ag.; Ms. Truedel Marks, Human Resources Manager; Mr. Orin Barnwell, Chief Engineer, and Consultant; and Mr. John Domer, Chief Security Officer.
Meanwhile, the union was represented by Ms. Mapp; Mr. Bernard Crawford, General President (Ag.); and Ms. Whitney Graham, Junior Vice President.
The Chief Labour Officer thanked BOSAI’s management and the union for their patience and understanding as the Ministry served as the conciliator guiding the entire process. BOSAI’s management and the Union also expressed mutual gratitude for their patience.