FOLLOWING the strike action by some 380 workers of the East Demerara Estate yesterday morning, after the dismissal of 15 cane harvesters, the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Ministry of Labour have called on the workers to return to work so the matter could be better discussed. 

GAWU President Komal Chand told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the strike could halt the progress of the estate’s first crop for 2015 because the majority of the strikers are factory workers who take care of maintenance work at the estate, hence the three parties have met and agreed upon terms of resumption.
The terms of resumption include four conditions:
* The strike action by the field and factory workers attached to the East Demerara Estate will be called off with immediate effect.
* The union will endeavour to ensure that there is full resumption of work no later than 7:00am today, February 11, 2015.
* Within 24 hours after there is full resumption, the parties will meet at the bilateral level and commence discussions on the grievance which led to the strike at stage IV of the extant grievance procedure. Moving on this stage of the grievance procedure, in this matter shall be without precedent.
* There will be no victimisation by either side.

SUBSTANDARD WORK ALLEGATION
According to Chand, it was alleged by the Management of the East Demerara Estate that the workers did substandard work, in that they failed to apply fertiliser to the cane on July 25, 2014.
“As a result of the dismissal of the workers, their fellow workmates struck in solidarity in order for the dismissal to be rescinded,” he said.
GAWU decided to engage in talks with the company, but unfortunately, Chand stated, the company refused to meet with them to discuss the dispute while the strike is still on.
Therefore, he stated, if the workers heed the call for them to return to work, GAWU will have a chance to meet with the company in an effort to get the dismissed workers their jobs back.

(By Navendra Seoraj)