The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), today, wrote to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)’s Chief Industrial Relations Manager, Deodat Sukhu, calling on the state-owned sugar company to suspend temporarily its operations for an appropriate period in light of the COVID-19 epidemic in Guyana.
In its correspondence which was copied to several senior GuySuCo officials, among others, GAWU said that it pointed out that over the last few days workers have expressed their fear about contracting the virus.
“The workers fearfulness, we added, have been heightened in recent days as the number of persons infected has risen and reports have indicated that this number will climb even higher in the coming days. In our missive, we recognized the Corporation embraced several measures as a means to allay workers’ fears. Those, while welcomed, have not helped to sufficiently subdue workers’ concerns at this time especially given the unfolding national situation,” the union said.
It further stated that GuySuCo was reminded that is it bound both by agreement and statue, among other things, to ensure that workers are protected from hazards whether they are physical or biological.
The Union pointed out that workers have expressed anxieties about going to work, not because they are unwilling but they are seeking to protect their and their families’ health and well-being at this time. It was against this background that the Union urged the Corporation to consider a temporary cessation of operations.
Not only is the union calling for a stoppage of operations, but also support for workers who will be affected by such a move.
“The Union, in its correspondence, also called on the GuySuCo to provide appropriate financial support to the beleaguered and hard-pressed sugar workers. We advised the GuySuCo that it ought to approach its political bosses to access sufficient financial support to ensure that it can assist its workers in this crisis period. We reminded the state-owned enterprise, that the Government is ensuring that all its workers do not suffer any loss in pay and, therefore, the sugar workers are just as deserving,” GAWU wrote.
The union continued: “The GAWU is hopeful that the Corporation would consider sincerely and soberly our requests. The GuySuCo has often repeated that its workers are its most important assets and, therefore, it should pursue every means to ensure that they and their families are safeguarded and protected at this time. We pointed out to the sugar company that several other enterprises in our country have taken similar stances as we suggested and it appears to be a most prudent course at this time.”
