Kenneth Joseph
The management of Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial, and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on Friday morning reached an agreement for a seven per cent increase across the board on wages and salaries for employees.
At a simple signing ceremony, held at the Watooka Complex, Mackenzie, Linden, the parties agreed to the increase for employees within the bargaining unit. They also agreed that the wages and salaries agreement will be retroactive from April 1.
Signing on behalf of BMGGI were General Manager George Zhao and Senior Personnel Officer Truedell Marks.
General Secretary Kenneth Joseph, Branch President Linnell Warden, and members Wayne Halley, Neptrid Hercules, and Trevor Henry, and Aggrey Darlington signed on behalf of NAACIE.
Last month, BMGGI employees had staged a massive protest outside the north gate of the company, after hearing of a proposed 3.5 per cent increase by the company. The company had, however, assured employees that negotiations were still ongoing and indicated that the 3.5 per cent increase was still negotiable.
Future developments
Speaking at the signing, Zhao said he was pleased with the negotiations and was looking forward to future developments within the Linden community and improving the working environment at BMGGI. Marks, speaking on behalf of the company, acknowledged that there was “a late start” with negotiations, and noted that the next round of negotiations will commence in April of next year to avoid future hiccups.
Speaking after the signing, Warden noted that the union was satisfied with the increase, but he expected employees to have “mixed feelings”.
Addressing the small gathering at the signing, Joseph said: “It is important that this is one of the agreements that have come out of the negotiations and again, we must compliment Bosai… we hope that workers would be put in a mood to continue production and we wish that the company continues to move from strength to strength.
“We also wish to compliment the company in its efforts to deal positively with the company and we encourage them to continue…,” he said.
Additionally, he noted that the union is in full support of the company’s expansion plans. Further, he stated that the union was pleased to have moved on from negotiations with BMGGI and was now focusing on other concerns such as the company’s productivity.
