CHIEF Executive Officer (acting) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), Mr. Paul Bhim has indicated that all factory workers of Blairmont Estate who were on strike have returned to work from yesterday.
He also advised that all outstanding payments have already been made, with yesterday being the workers’ pay day.
Meanwhile, Assistant General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Mr. Derek Thakur said that workers were advised to return to work yesterday following a meeting with officials from the union and GUYSUCO last Thursday.
Although operations were resumed today, Thakur advised that workers on the first shift had to carry out maintenance work and after these works are completed by the second shift, grinding will begin in the factory.
GAWU was also reassured that all unsettled queries will be dealt with within one week.
Thakur further explained that GUYSUCO intended to take disciplinary action against the workers who participated in the strike. However, he advised that GAWU does not agree with this decision and if the corporation should go through with it the union will take further action.
The corporation’s CEO, however, said that no disciplinary action has been decided upon to date. Nevertheless, GUYSUCO plans to try to educate workers on the consequences of such actions, as it not only affects the workers themselves, but also their colleagues and the entire corporation.
Bhim further explained that workers lost wages because the entire estate had to be shut down due to the strike actions of the factory workers. This in turn affected the national economy, since spending power was lowered.
He couldn’t say exactly what the financial implications were for GUYSUCO itself, but he advised that approximately 150,000 tonnes of sugar were lost. Bhim explained that the 400 punts of cane which were left unattended will still be processed. However, the amount of sugar that would have initially been gained would be reduced.
He further stated that the crop will now have to be extended but they are still hoping to reach the target of 236,000 tonnes for this year. He is optimistic that this target can still be reached if the dry weather prevails.
Bhim reiterated that the strike caused a loss of valuable opportunity time to harvest sugar cane since the factory was shut down for four days.
When asked whether the industrial action affected the export market, he stated that sugar will be exported late to Suriname and Trinidad. However, it hasn’t really had an effect on the European market since other estates were still producing and there is an adequate supply of sugar to supply that demand.
The vessel from Europe arrived today and the sugar is expected to be shipped shortly.