SORRY might not be the best word to describe my feelings but I am very “sorry” as a sugar worker for the actions that we took over the past weeks, especially that week-long strike. At the end of it all and more so at this junction, when Christmas is around the corner, I really think that we really made a bad move. Striking is not the only way to resolve issues. Looking at the situation from outside of Guysuco is sometimes better that looking at it from a workers point of view. Now, from the outside, I can tell you if we didn’t strike, maybe we could have made that target or even got close to it, hence we could have called on management or even the Minister of Agriculture for an increase, but what do we do now?
At the moment, all I am hearing is that we would not be given any increase. We also hear talks of all nature when it comes to wages and wage increase and this is giving me an impression that “we aint get anything to get from Guysuco”. I hope that this is not the case but as a worker in the industry, and seeing the production level, I highly doubt that there would be an increase.
Sometimes I feel that I should put myself in Guysuco’s position and see how things really are and even ask some of the other workers in the industry to do the same. Just think of the industry as your own business. And I am quite sure if it’s your business you would want the best out of it and to have the best out of it, you will have to put the best in it. This is the way of the world. Hence, I make a strong appeal to my fellow workers to put in that extra bit so we can rely on the industry for our sustenance and the industry can rely on us for its growth and development.
As I bring to close this letter, again I wish to say that the actions we took was not the best decision and if things don’t work out the way we want it to, then we should blame no one, since I don’t see much happening at this time.