– GuySuCo, GAWU compromise on payment issue
THE Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) yesterday agreed that workers at the Wales Estate will receive $383 per bed for the clearance of obstacles (grass, bushes and vines) in the field.

GuySuCo had initially proposed to pay the workers $360 for the additional task but the union was holding out that the amount should be $400.

GAWU President Mr. Komal Chand told the Guyana Chronicle that the compromise was reached following a meeting with senior GuySuCo officials, and union representatives of the estate will instruct the workers to resume duties today.

This will be most welcome news for the Corporation, as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Errol Hanoman on Wednesday told this newspaper that he was optimistic that the matter will be resolved by early next week.

Amidst the differences between the workers and GuySuCo, some 13 hectares of cane on the estate were mysteriously set ablaze on Monday night.

Hanoman put the losses at about 65 tonnes of sugar, valued around $5.5M and to date no one was arrested in connection with the fire.

He said despite the setbacks of the fire, as well as the strike which started on Monday, the estate still stands a good chance of getting close to its production target, as harvesting there would take about seven weeks, which is before the rainy season begins.

However, the top GuySuCo official pointed out that this is dependent on how soon the workers resume duties.

Chand said the canes which were burnt were mature and even though there will be some losses, it will be far less than what the CEO had estimated.

He said that the workers will commence work today to get these cane to the factory as further delay will result in a reduction of the sucrose content of the cane.

The estate was temporarily closed following the workers strike. Hanoman said it was not feasible to continue operation given the workers counter-productive action.

He stressed that while the workers have a right to strike, again they breached the grievance procedures.

He contended too that though there are some reasonable GAWU officials, there are others who are irresponsible and these are instigating the workers.

Hanoman, on this score, appealed to these officials to cease their action and look at the broader picture of the industry.

But Chand contended that the strike was justifiable as the workers had been working under poor conditions.

He disclosed that he was informed by the estate management that 49 per cent of its cultivation is in a poor state, and that eight beds of cane can hardly fill a punt, when under normal circumstances, two beds could do this.

This, he said, is a loss to the Corporation. Apart from this, there are other instances where workers work under abnormal conditions.

The Wales Estate management, Chand warned, will have to improve their payment rates to workers in these areas as well, or there will be more strikes.

He underlined too that the union did not contravene the grievance procedures, pointing its action was in accordance with clause 5 (1) of the Recognition and Avoidance and Settlement of Dispute Agreement which states:

“For the purpose of this agreement, a stoppage of work resulting over:

** the price of a task or job which does not have a fixed rate of pay; or

** an abnormal work condition which may result in a hazard to the maintenance of good health

“Shall not be considered a violation of any of the terms of this agreement, but every effort shall be made by both parties to effect a settlement within 48 hours.”

President Bharrat Jagdeo, at a recent forum, has emphasised that workers have a right to full compensation and the Corporation must constantly try to enhance their pay package.

He, however, reiterated that they must understand their roles in ensuring the survival of the industry.

Notably, he stressed, in light of the European Union (EU) price cuts on sugar and other challenges facing the industry.

Mr. Jagdeo urged the workers to be reasonable sometimes, pointing out that they have to look at the financial situation of the industry.

“You can’t break the industry when it is trying to emerge,” he underscored.

Hanoman reiterated the GuySuCo management is always willing to listen and work with the workers in resolving their differences.

Meanwhile, the Corporation has reported that it has exceeded the weekly production target of 10,000 tonnes of sugar at the end of the fifth week of grinding.

The Company said the achievement of 10,110 tonnes of cane for that week is commendable and encouraging.

“Workers of Rose Hall location qualified for the equivalent of the two day’s pay as weekly production incentive, while those of Albion and Blairmont Estates received a day’s pay under the scheme.

“Sugar production for the second crop now exceeds 36,000 tonnes and workers are encouraged to maximise production by making the most of the opportunity days available,” the Corporation stated.

However, the strikes by workers of the Enmore and Wales estates were seen as a hindrance to the achievement of production targets.

Grinding for the second crop commenced at the end of July and is expected to last for 20 weeks. Just over 160,000 tonnes of sugar is targeted.During a major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in April, she noted that climate change is an environmental, health, economic, energy and security issue.