Government disgusted; calls for end to GGMC strike

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] –Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon says the first important industrial event for 2015 which involves workers at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has attracted Cabinet’s attention.

He told Reporters that the Cabinet is disgusted and feels that the reasons for the industrial action are also unpalatable.

Dr. Luncheon said Cabinet is most concern with whether there is justification for the continued industrial unrest. “What was the beef… what was the issue that caused them to be out on strike?” Luncheon questioned.

Providing the answer himself, he noted that recommendations that were made following consultations in 2010 – 2011 are yet to be implement; causing employees to become upset.

“Unbelievably this is the workers contention for them being out there, that the implementation of the recommendations of the consultant was not being honored by the management of the GGMC and by the administration seems to be the basis for the continues industrial unrest,” he added.

Luncheon said too that “one could understand the reaction of Cabinet because I am certain that every sector in this government that has acquired consultancy on tragic development carry this amount of recommendations and the notionthat there can be an industrial unrest issue on the implementation is a bit difficult for Cabinet to contemplate to swallow.”

He submitted that this “unusual contention can be discussed” and called for an end to the strike in a conventional manner.

Dr Luncheon pointed out that no negotiation can take place under duress; calling on workers to return to work and “as silly as the issue is, let’s discuss it.”

He observed that the fact that the strike continues is an indication that workers feel entrenched.
The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security has deemed the strike as ‘illegal’, ‘unethical’ and ‘improper.’