SUGAR workers on all estates went on strike yesterday, and this has resulted in a total shutdown across the industry.Workers are demanding an annual production bonus for this year.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union ( GAWU) which has organised the current strike, on November 18, 2013 submitted a claim for an annual production bonus of 6.80 day’s pay for a production of 201,000 tonnes sugar or alternatively 29,500 tonnes per day pay., a release from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) said.

At a meeting on December 10 during the prolonged deliberations between the two parties, the corporation suggested to the union that it should review its original demand to facilitate further dialogue on the matter to which the General Secretary of the union, who was the head of the delegation, responded that the union is “flexible” on its demand, and at the next meeting the it will communicate its “flexible position.”
GUYSUCO said: “On this note the corporation suggested that both parties meet not later than the current week. It was then mutually agreed, with the concurrence of the delegation that both parties shall meet on Friday December 13 at GAWU’s office. It was therefore not only most disappointing for the union to call a strike when there was an agreement to meet and further negotiate its demand, but its action violated the core of the extant collective labour agreement.

“The strike will only exacerbate the corporation’s inability to meet its financial obligation. Despite low production strikes and low turnouts, the corporation in good faith continues to enhance wages. Just four weeks ago the corporation and GAWU and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) reached an agreement for an across-the-board increase of 4%, effective from January 1, 2013. The retroactive payments calculated to be $735M will be paid on December 20, 2013,” GUYSUCO charged.

GUYSUCO reported that yesterday morning there were approximately 960 loaded punts with 5,300 tonnes canes waiting to be processed, which could yield 375 tonnes sugar. In addition, there are 1,275 tonnes canes which are burnt in the fields waiting to be harvested, which could yield another 884 tonnes of sugar.

The corporation said it wishes to record its disappointment with this strike action and call upon all parties to act more responsibly to ensure a full resumption by today