MONROVIA – A probable protest at the Bea Mountain Mining Company in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County has been averted by an agreement between the management and workers which was satisfactory to both parties, among which was the elevation of 116 contractors to permanent employees but with more room for further discussions.
According to a dispatch from the concession area, in addition to that, they will receive all benefits such as payment of school fees for their children, medical, insurance, and monthly feeding(rice) among others.
The new arrangement followed a series of negotiations affected by the workers and management and the signing of the memorandum of understanding ceremony took place over the weekend in Kinjor and was witnessed by officials from the Bureau of Concessions, National Investment Commission, Labor ministry among other stakeholders.
Highlights of the MOU according to reports included but not limited to the reinstatement of union officials with different assignments, 90 daily hires (Casual Workers) status was changed to short term, All short term workers will all benefits ( school fees, medical insurance, rice subsidy and other benefits contained in the CBA upon signing the new consent form from the union leadership, Recreation construction was approved awaiting completion of the land to be purchased from the community which has started; Acceptance to start working with new bargaining agent (mother union).
Also, it was agreed that there would be the maintenance of industrial harmony at the mine.
It was agreed that there would be no strike action or lockout of any kind by the workers. More to that, It was also stated in the MOU that the workers would continue to engage management in social dialogue in resolving their grievances and not in any way support or lend support to any form of strike action.
For its part, management agreed that it would not institute any form of disciplinary action against any worker who had earlier engaged in strike action announced before September 16, 2022.
Management agreed to construct a recreation center in Kinjor, management agreed to furnish workers with names of workers whose employment status was changed.
Background:
It can be recalled that early this year, the company filed a notice of termination and redundancy to the ministry of Labour for 35 Liberian employees and 16 Turkish nationals on grounds that their assignment sites have been exhausted and there was no need for any job.
When the letter was sent, the chairman of the workers union, Mr. Samuel A. Roberts was served a copy and did not act within the time frame.
Based upon that, the ministry granted Bea mountain permission to effect the termination of those specific employees.
After two months of said redundancy, the union chairman Roberts and Reklyatu Wayne filed with the ministry a five-count objection which was accompanied by a notice to strike and lockdown.
The union chairman in his five-count petition called for the reinstatement of all union leaders who were declared redundant illegally and those other illegal due paying workers; commence immediate discussions of newly exclusive bargaining agents on all matters of the CBA,
A ruling was given in the case by the Ministry of Labor. However, the workers decided to further dialogue with management after a number of them decided to embark on strike action.
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