Operations across the sugar industry have been significantly affected as thousands of sugar workers from Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates as well as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Research Unit have largely stayed away from work to protest what they believe is an “unfair” increase in pay being offered by the GuySuCo.
Over the last three weeks, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the sugar company have been engaged in negotiations regarding improvement in workers’ pay rates which have been frozen since 2015.
While the Union and the Corporation have been able to reach agreement on several matters, the state-owned GuySuCo has been insisting that the improvements be implemented from January 01, this year. The Union and the workers, contend that any increase must be retroactive to January 01, 2019.
“Our stance takes into account that our discussions have its roots in the Union’s claims for 2019. In such circumstances, agreement reached on any matter ought to be implemented from the beginning of 2019. The Corporation is well aware of this practice yet it continues to disregard same without rhyme or even convincing reason,” the Union said.
GAWU said that GuySuCo is attempting to impose the pay rise though it has not been fully endorsed by the workers and their Unions.
“The Corporation, during our most recent engagement, intimated to the Union’s delegation that it is desirous of implementing the new rates-of-pay from March 01, incidentally a day before the workers and the families will cast their ballots. Whether that it is coincidental or not, is another question…It should be recalled around that time workers gathered outside of President David Granger’s office to reiterate their demand for a pay increase which has been denied to them since the Coalition took office,” GAWU noted.
The Union said that the insistence of the GuySuCo for the workers to accept a pay rise effective at the beginning of this year is a “two-card trick”.
“While the Corporation may well believe its approach is novel, the workers have recognised that the company, by its desire, is telling the workers zero increase for 2019. At the same time, it will prevent them from bargaining from any further improvement for 2020 irrespective of changes in the cost-of-living, among other things,” the Union noted.
Recognising the Government’s role to addressing this issue, a number of workers converged outside of the Ministry of the Presidency engaging in a picketing exercise to call on the President and his Government to address meaningfully their call.
