Sugar workers call for pay award before Christmas

– on the picket line again
Workers attached to the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) eight sugar estates across the country downed tools again yesterday calling on GuySuCo to honour the pay increase awarded to them before Christmas.

The workers also demanded a six per cent increase in wages and salaries as opposed to the recent three per cent arbitration award.
According to the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), yesterday’s protest action was based on three contentions: that the sugar workers receive the three per cent retroactive payment awarded by the Gobind Ganga led tribunal before Christmas; the three per cent increase is seen as “too meagre” and that the Annual Production Incentive (API) usually awarded to sugar workers be paid as soon as possible.

As regards the API, GAWU officials told Stabroek News yesterday that the union met GuySuCo a few weeks ago on the issue and the two bodies are expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the matter further. GAWU is contending that the March 10, 2010 payout deadline as ruled by the arbitration tribunal is unreasonable given the festive season.

GuySuCo recently stated that workers will be paid their increases and wages and salaries from January 1, 2010 and the sugar corporation also stated that it will be honouring retroactive payments as soon as possible.

When contacted yesterday afternoon for a comment, a GuySuCo  official told Stabroek News that following the arbitration ruling, GAWU should have recognized that the management of the sugar corporation is working to overcome difficult financial circumstances at this time. He said the sugar entity continues to call on the union to be considerate, adding that dialogue remains “the way forward”.

Sugar workers working in the out-of-crop season at the Wales and Enmore estates began their protest action around 7 am yesterday with only 20% of the workforce at the latter estate remaining at the worksite following the protest action. Noting that the recent six per cent pay hike awarded to public servants gave them a glimmer of hope, the workers at both estates were yesterday calling for a similar percentage increase in their wages and salaries. One factory worker at the Enmore Estate told Stabroek News yesterday that the management of GuySuCo should consider their families during the festive season. “They don’t have money to pay us, but the management enjoying fancy salaries,” he added.

Last Thursday sugar workers protested the wage hike and also criticized GuySuCo for being indifferent to their concerns. GAWU’s President stated that the union was particularly disappointed with the award by the tribunal. While yesterday’s protest action did not disrupt the operations at the sugar estates, the workers are expected to continue their protest action today.