Canadian miner Guyana Goldfields Inc today announced a suspension of operations at its Aurora, Region Seven mine site after a `wild cat’ strike.
In a statement, Guyana Goldfields said that a section of the workforce employed by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, AGM Inc. has blocked delivery of ore to the mill.
The Company said it believes the stoppage was the result of a misunderstanding concerning the management and relationship between AGM and certain open pit mining contractors. AGM has been examining options to improve mining performance in order to ensure Aurora’s long-term future, the statement added. No decisions have been made on any possible changes to the mining operation at this time.
“The Company is actively working along with its employees and adhering to applicable laws and regulations and is facilitating communication with the relevant Governmental labour authorities to understand and address employees’ concerns and to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. The Company is making arrangements to have the strikers meet with representatives of the Ministry of Labour to mediate the dispute”, the statement added.
It says that work on the underground exploration remains unaffected.
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Guyana Goldfields workers call off strike
Posted by: Denis Chabrol – Demerara Waves- July 5, 2019
Guyana Goldfields Inc. announced Friday that the work stoppage at its Aurora mine that began on July 2 has ended, paving the way for union and the Ministry of Labour representatives to meet with aggrieved workers.
“Employees are starting to return to work in a phased approach to ensure orderliness and full production is anticipated to resume shortly,” the company said in a brief statement.
Guyana Goldfields said as a result of the three operational days lost, the company estimates that approximately 22,500 tonnes were not processed. However, full year production guidance remains unaffected at 145,000 to 160,000 ounces of gold.
Suresh Kalathil, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer states, “Personnel are being re-mobilized and the site is ramping back up to normal operations in a phased and safe manner. The Company has agreed to a dialogue with employee representatives and Government authorities to resolve any outstanding issues in full compliance with Guyanese labour law.”
More than 100 workers at the Cuyuni-based mines site had downed tools, fearing that they would not have been paid severance if the company made them redundant.
The company has made it clear that no one has lost his or her job.
The decision to resume operations came two days after the company had hired planes to remove workers from the mines site after operations had been scaled down to non-essential status.
However, sources said many of the workers had refused to board the planes. Guyana Goldfields had said that only those eligible to return to the mines site would have been told of their return dates.