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GuySuCo decries compromise of API discussions

Nov 25, 2015 News

Despite reports of a consensus being reached to wait until Annual Production Incentive (API) discussions are completed before going to the press, the dispute between the sugar corporation and workers’ unions has spilled over once more.
In a statement yesterday, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) declared that workers are falling victim to misinformation, which is being peddled to incite them to down tools, and has been used to compromise the API process.
It also provided an update on the API discussions which were held last Friday at La Bonne Intention (LBI). The corporation had offered to pay one day’s API for every 85,000 tonnes of sugar. This equates to 2.7 days for the corporation’s expected year production of 233,361 tonnes.
“At this time the Union informed that it will not sign on to an agreement with such a high number (tonnes sugar per day’s pay),” the statement went on to reveal. “But has no objection to the Corporation paying the sum to the workers sometime earlier. Further, they (had stated that they) will like to consult with the Union’s wider membership on the position put forward.”
“The Corporation had proposed to reconvene on Tuesday (yesterday) of this week. However, the Union requested that after their consultation with the wider membership they will get on to the Corporation on the way forward. Finally, it was agreed that both parties will not speak to the press until we conclude this matter.”
At this point, however, the corporation noted that that very evening “the Union’s local officer and its representatives were in the villages bordering the East Demerara Estates, (using) a loud speaker to call out workers to strike for one week instead of the expected consultation on the Corporation’s offer.”
According to the corporation, this became a reality when the workers of that estate responded on Saturday. The cane harvesters withdrew their labour.
“Further the Union representatives of Skeldon and Blairmont indicated to management that they would be proceeding on industrial action from Sunday. Blairmont harvesting reps were clear that they will be withholding their labour for the entire week.”
The Corporation called on Unions to allow workers to continue working. It noted that Skeldon, Albion and East Demerara estates have three more weeks for the crop, while Rose Hall has four and Blairmont two
“Isn’t it good sense to allow these workers to resume their duties and earn as much as they can over the next 2-4 weeks at their respective estates?”
As of yesterday the crop’s production stands at 133,464 as against 146,300 tonnes sugar budgeted. For the year to date the figure is 214,607 tonnes. The industry also has an opportunity to surpass 150,000 tonnes sugar this crop which was last achieved in the second crop of 2009.
According to GuySuCo, workers have so far earned 66 days pay [Weekly Production Incentives] for this crop and 92 days for the year valued at $1B.
“Workers should be encouraged to resume normal duties and work towards achieving their respective weekly targets and earning themselves additional incentives over the next 2-4 weeks,” the Corporation stated.

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