GAWU/GuySuCo negotiations breakdown….Union announces cessation of field, factory operations

Aug 27, 2008 News

– sugar company set to lose additional $840M

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) yesterday announced the cessation of field and factory operations within the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s sugar estates in Berbice and Demerara, beginning yesterday.
The reinstituted industrial action was as a result of the failure of negotiations between the Union and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to resolve the differences in relation to an increase in pay, with the parties jointly requesting the conciliatory service of the Ministry of Labour.
Meanwhile, GuySuCo is contending that there was no official notification by GAWU of any intentions of instituting a strike.
This, the company noted, is in violation of the grievance procedure that stipulates for the Union to provide 72 hours notice, in writing, of its intention to proceed on strike.
The estimated loss on production for this week is slated to be some 7,000 tonnes of sugar and would amount to loss in revenue of almost some $840M.
The strike is reminiscent of similar action taken by workers at Albion late last week, and at Enmore, LBI and Wales, a fortnight ago.
The corporation has long insisted that it could not afford more than the 5.25 per cent it has offered.
Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel intervened in the labour dispute on August 18, and after holding three meetings with the two entities, declared a deadlock on Monday with the Union demanding an increase in pay of 14.25 per cent and the Corporation offering 5.25 per cent.
According to GAWU, workers have been experiencing a significant rise in the cost-of-living, noting that last year’s 8.5 per cent increase was far below the inflation rate of 14 per cent.
“This year’s offer by the Corporation is also below the declared half-year inflation rate for this year.”
The Union also contends that the purchasing power of the ordinary workers has been continuously eroded in the light of the ascending cost of living. “We wish to renew the call that increases in pay for all workers ought to be greater than the rate of inflation.”
It also insisted that the major problem of the sugar industry was with the poor management of the Corporation.
– “The Union wishes to recommence negotiations but with a more reasonable offer by the Corporation which could be the basis of a negotiated settlement and calls upon the Corporation to set the stage for an immediate resumption of the discussions and an end to the strike.”

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GAWU/GuySuCo negotiations breakdown….Union announces cessation of field, factory operations

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