More workers attached to the Wales Estate of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) have joined their colleagues in the land preparation section of the estate who are on strike over a change in their job description.
This newspaper understands that workers from the mechanical workshop of the estate have joined their colleagues who are peeved over a change in their job description bringing the total numbers of workers who have downed tools to more than 50.
Efforts to obtain a comment from GuySuCo and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) yesterday were in vain.
The strikers voiced opposition after they were required to carry out work on the field beds where cane stalks are planted within a certain time. They explained that they are now required to prepare beds for the planting of sugar cane making 3 rod turns instead of 2, with a tractor with plough attached within a certain time.
The workers told this newspaper two days ago that they did not disagree with the new regulation but noted that it was only communicated to them by word of mouth.
The men noted yesterday that the estate manager at Wales has been upset with them ever since a report on their strike action was made public in this newspaper. They noted that the field manager told them yesterday that they should return to work so that discussion on the issue could be concluded.
The workers said that they were willing to return to work for the night shift last night, but when a call was placed to officials at GAWU shortly after, persons there noted that their concerns were not going to be discussed at any point. They said they will remain off the job until officials from within the two bodies look into their concerns.
GAWU’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine told this newspaper on Tuesday that the union met with the workers the day before to discuss the issue. He noted that GuySuCo had communicated with the union its intentions to change work conditions from one of the rate of work to time rate.
He said that the workers knew of the ongoing discussion between the two sides and he noted too that the two bodies are expected to meet on October 12 tentatively. He noted too that work was expected to continue at the estate while discussions are on-going.
Industrial action in the industry has contributed to dismal production in recent years.
