By Rabindra Rooplall

MANY workers of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will reportedly not qualify for the Annual Production Incentive (API) and other benefits if they continue to strike while the company aims for its targeted 227,000 tonnes sugar production that is to be achieved in the weeks ahead.GuySuCo’s Chief Industrial Relations Manager Deodat Sukhu, made this dire prediction as he informed that GuySuCo had agreed to meet with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Friday last to discuss increased wages for workers, but this did not materialise as GAWU had already initiated random strike action on at least three estates, according to GuySuCo.

The company is warning that strike action could jeopardise any talks on wage increases.

Sukhu declared that GuySuCo contacted GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine yesterday to inform him that the company is looking for total resumption of work before engaging in any further consultation with the union.

“Our current total revenue is barely enough to pay wages. GuySuCo cannot talk under duress; workers need to understand that they need to work. Workers on strike can disqualify themselves for other benefits if they did not acquire 80% of work on duty. By being absent from work, they can disqualify themselves and they can have greater losses,” the Chief Industrial Relations Manager explained.

“We have even written to GAWU stating that if strike action continues we would be withdrawing the offer, because [a] strike would only take us more deep into financial difficulty, because we are already trying to make a payment we can’t afford just to fulfil our expectation.”

Sukhu said workers must realise that strike action would destroy the industry, which can barely afford to maintain its workers. He said the 2.7 days Annual Production Incentive (API) offered by the corporation can only be paid in March 2016, although the corporation’s position has been rejected by GAWU.

Sukhu said he understands that a large percentage of the workers did not want to strike, because they wanted to maximise their earnings and to take the crop off.

GuySuCo is optimistic that its 2015 sugar target of 227,443 tonnes will be reached, irrespective of the present industrial action by some workers.

Although GAWU had informed GuySuCo that the strike had been called off, at least on three estates, there was still strike action in the industry; and Sukhu warned that this action could scuttle any talks on wage increases, especially since GAWU is aiming for an unrealistic five days API, which the company is financially unable to pay.

Noting that this type of strike action can bring the industry to its knees and result in the workers suffering in the long run, Sukhu said he understands that many impromptu strikes are still being organised by GAWU at the various factories.

Government has had to bail out the sugar industry with $28 billion in the last five years alone. And now, with its debt load of $82 billion and an expected $5 billion needed for capital investment, together with anticipated further bailout in 2016, any strike action in the industry would sound the proverbial death knell for the industry.

As of week ending November 6, 2015, Skeldon and Blairmont estates have surpassed their weekly target; while Albion, Rose Hall and Enmore estates respectively achieved 91.43%, 90.29% and 90.26% of their production targets.

WHY NOW
Meanwhile, the current industrial action called by GAWU has forced the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo Mr Errol Hanoman to ask some pertinent questions.
Hanoman reportedly told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that certain questions need to be answered by the union. “Why deny workers additional wages and incentives that they can earn in the three weeks remaining to crop’s end? Why deny GuySuCo from realising its 2015 targeted sugar production? What is there to be gained from this protest action, even as [the] production target is within reach?”

The CEO made it clear that the protest action will only make the situation more serious for the sugar company, as sales will be affected along with payment of wages and salaries, and obligations to suppliers. He added that, “Whilst on strike, there can be no engagement, so when the union officially calls off the strike and workers return, then dialogue can resume.”

GuySuCo is just about 13,000 tonnes away from achieving its 2015 sugar target of 227,443 tonnes. According to Hanoman, the target can even be surpassed by at least 6,000 tonnes, which would take production to 233,361 tonnes for the year. The last time GuySuCo achieved a second-crop target was in 2004.

As of today, production stood at 133,464 tonnes for the second crop, while the year-to-date total stood at 214,607 tonnes.

Some workers are on strike over the Annual Production Incentive (API) offered by the corporation. Hanoman told GINA on Monday that talks on Friday, with GAWU, regarding the API were left unfinished, after GAWU indicated that they wanted to consult their membership. GuySuCo is offering 2.7 days API which will be paid by March 2016.

According to Hanoman, a large number of workers are against strike action at this time. He said the corporation is awaiting their return and is encouraging them to maximise their earnings and to take the crop off.