Minister Trotman says BOSAI unrest resolved - praises staff for taking pay cut to assist other workers
MINISTER of Governance with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, has disclosed that an agreement has been reached between the BOSAI Minerals Company and its workers for them to stay on the job and work eight hours daily instead of 12 hours in an effort to prevent retrenchment. Further, he praised the workers in the mining town of Linden for being each other’s keeper, and agreeing to take a pay cut in order to facilitate those who would otherwise have been out of a job. The Minister said, “This is a sterling example of how things can be resolved quickly, relatively easily, and produce a win -win situation for all.”
Minister Trotman said that the situation arose about a month ago when it was communicated by the company that there were excess piles of ore and no markets for them. He said that since then, the Government has been engaging the company and fostering discussions. BOSAI indicated that they would likely have to retrench some workers.
The Ministry of Social Protection also became involved in negotiations to facilitate an agreement that would be amenable to both parties.
However, “BOSAI then proceeded to cut back on the staff and the union representatives took a different view. That is why there was some industrial unrest or action yesterday. But we are very heartened by the agreement reached between the Ministry of Social Protection, Regional Chairman and the company, which would see the workers remaining, but working fewer hours. I think an agreement has been reached which benefits everyone and we want to laud the efforts of the Ministry, the Union and the company to reach an agreement in the matter peacefully and positively,” Minister Trotman added.
In the meantime, he lauded the selflessness of the workers at the company and the decision which they have taken to ensure that the workers can remain on the job and earn an income.
“I think the applause should be given to the workers who agreed to a pay cut by working fewer hours so that those that would have been laid off could remain on. So we want to applaud those who made the sacrifices so that their brothers and sisters could get an income,” he said.
On Thursday, workers at BOSAI launched a protest action after it was reported that some 37 out of 600 workers would have been retrenched due to the lack of markets for the bauxite. The company had said that they began experiencing problems since 2014.
Minister Trotman said that the Ministry will continue to monitor the situation.
