Sugar workers down tools over stalled wage talks

Apr 17, 2021 News

Kaieteur News – Sugar workers attached to the Uitvlugt Estate, West Coast Demerara (WBD), yesterday downed tools to stage a picketing exercise, calling on the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) to resume wage and salary talks for the period 2019 to 2021.

Some of the striking sugar workers

The Guyana Sugar Workers’ Union (GAWU) in a public missive on the escalating issue indicated that when the two bodies last met to address the issue last month, there was an unambiguous understanding that the Corporation would inform the union of its position by the end of March 2021 but this was never done.
According to GAWU, the union, having not heard from the sugar company, on April 9, 2021 wrote the Corporation seeking clarification. GAWU noted however that its correspondence is yet to be acknowledged.
To this end, the workers held that GuySuCo was disrespectful to them and the union.
It was noted that while GuySuCo has boasted of massive investments in the fields and factories, there is no such boisterousness when it comes to addressing the plight of the workers. The workers contended that in as much as the Corporation recognised the need for investment in its physical assets, its human assets require also some level of investment too.
They lamented that as a result of the pay freeze, which they suffered during the term of the Coalition, some workers were earning just above the national minimum wage. This, the workers reportedly claimed is hardly sufficient to take care of their families.
The workers have also pointed to a recent interview with the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, Sasenarine Singh, which appeared in the Guyana Chronicle. In that article, the official was quoted as saying, “they were pleased to learn that GuySuCo is seeking to sell sugar at higher prices.”
According to GAWU, the workers welcomed the initiatives and are hopeful that even greater quantities of sugar can be sold in the new markets touted.
Workers, GAWU said, held out that their efforts are partially responsible for the improvements heralded and they ought to receive some due reward for their contributions.
The Union, for its part said it remains open to frank discussions with the Corporation and that “GAWU and the workers are eager to find a settlement that is fair to all sides.”