Int’l union writes President Granger on sugar situation

May 24, 2018 News

The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF), an international trade union confederation, through its General Secretary Sue Longley, has written to President David Granger expressing the body’s strong concern with the situation that is playing out in the communities of the now-closed Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estates.
In its May 10, 2018 letter to President Granger, the IUF, which speaks on behalf of 10 million workers through its 422 affiliated unions in 131 countries, said it is aware that the sugar industry “…has made substantial contributions to your country’s [Guyana] national life and development…its role as a national institution cannot be diminished…”
The IUF went on to say “bearing those factors in mind…we cannot help being saddened by what has taken place…”
The international body said it appears “that very little thought has been given to address the well-being and welfare of the thousands who have been affected”.
The IUF lamented that the Government though being advised “did not pursue any considered study to get a better grasp of the eventualities that will flow from its reform plans”.
The IUF General Secretary added that she was very moved when she interacted with some of the now jobless workers earlier this year having heard “their stories of survival and struggle”.
She wrote that “it is difficult for us to imagine what has taken place in the days and weeks that followed that engagement”.
The IUF strongly urged the President that his Government “actively looks at the plight that has befallen the thousands of workers of the sugar industry who have lost their livelihood”.
The trade union body said the situation “if left unchecked, would not be in the interest of your beautiful country and hospitable people”.
The letter from the IUF succinctly highlights the difficulties that the now ex-workers of Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales are facing, according to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).
“The GAWU, among others, has been consistently drawing attention to the difficulties and travails that now must be contended with. Our union is indeed appreciative of the IUF’s support at this time. We hope also that President Granger, together with his colleagues, will consider, rationally, what the IUF has written and seek to remove the steadily increasing burdens the former workers face.”
GuySuCo has been facing major financial problems in recent years as production and price cut in its Europe market, wiped out profits.
Four of the seven estates were closed in the last 18 months and are now up on the market for divestment and privatization.

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