WORKERS of the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate are currently on strike to express displeasure and disagreement at the dismissal of some of their co-workers; but the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) says the workers were dismissed for serious misconduct in the execution of their duties.

Uitvlugt Estate workers say that as workers approach retirement age, GuySuCo routinely dismisses them for frivolous reasons. One worker who has been dismissed after more than 39 years in the industry’s employ disclosed that he cannot comprehend the reason for his dismissal. He explained that an extremely dry crop season resulted in approximately 0.1 per cent of ten acres of cane not being adequately planted, and this caused his dismissal from GuySuCo.

Another worker explained that he was dismissed because he had erred in signing a payslip for someone who was deceased. He explained that it was both a genuine mistake and a first-time occurrence, and he even assured GuySuCo that he was willing to repay the money, but his request was ignored and his services terminated.

A third worker furiously denounced the actions of GuySuCo while accusing the corporation of trying to divest itself of having to pay workers their pension and gratuity. He described himself as a victim of discrimination because he was summoned to present a letter showing cause why he should not be dismissed after he had witnessed a fight in which he did not participate.

He questioned whether the corporation had wanted him to close his eyes during the altercation, as he could not help witnessing what was transpiring at the time.

Still another worker disclosed that molasses, which is wantonly “wasted” at the facility, was the cause for his dismissal. He revealed that he had taken approximately two pints of molasses up from the floor, and the security stopped and searched him and he was subsequently dismissed, forfeiting some twenty-plus years of continuous employment at the corporation.

He said he was willing to pay for the molasses after he realized it had caused a conflict, but his request to so do was ignored and he was dismissed.

While numerous workers vented their disapproval of management’s handling of the various situations, another worker revealed that four bearings, each weighing between 600 and 700 pounds and valued in excess of GY$3M, are currently missing, and no investigation has been initiated in this regard. The workers, moreover, claim that it requires the manpower of between four and five individuals to displace those bearings.

“They are trying to stop corruption at the bottom, and we don’t mind; but they need to stop corruption at the top first!” one worker commented.

Guyana Sugar Corporation, however, in its statement, described three staff members who were dismissed as junior staff, noting that their dismissals came as a result of serious misconduct in the execution of their duties.

According to GuySuCo, the two foremen were detailed to supervise the replacement of dead canes with new sets of canes at De Kendren East, Fields 29-31, in an operation called “supplying”. They began the operation at about 11.00 am, but after three hours of work, the field foremen and the workers detailed on the operation were discovered in a labour lorry travelling home.

When questioned by a senior manager, the foremen stated that the work had been done in accordance with the required standard. The manager requested the foremen to return to the fields where the work was done, and it was discovered that not only was the work done in a substandard manner, but payment claimed for the job was above what had been stipulated.

GuySuCo maintains that, in accordance with the disciplinary procedure, the foremen were issued with a show-cause letter dated February 4, 2014 and requesting that they show reason in writing, on or before February 8, 2014, why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

In the said letter, it was also stated that if they failed to respond to the alleged infraction, management would proceed to take the appropriate disciplinary action against them. They refused to respond to the letter, and were consequently summarily dismissed from the employ of GuySuCo on May 13, 2014.

“The field supervisor who was required to supervise 12 men in the digging of internal drains at Zeeburg, Fields 62-64, on November 12, 2013 was dismissed too, after a subsequent check of the work revealed that the work was not done to the required standard, and with less than the required output, but payments were made as if the work had been done to required output and standard.

“The supervisor too, by letter dated February 27, 2014, was requested to show reason in writing, on or before March 6, 2014, why disciplinary action should not be taken against him; and like the foremen’s letter, he was also advised that if he refused to respond, management would take the appropriate disciplinary action. He refused to respond, and was consequently summarily dismissed on May 13, 2014 for committing a serious misconduct in the execution of his duties,” the workers further explained.

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, in an interview with this newspaper, noted that he is currently unaware of the situation due to his absence from Georgetown, but maintains that the Government does not support any policy that would seek to dismiss workers for unsubstantial reasons.

“Such acts by the private and public sectors and other agencies will never be supported by the Ministry,” Dr Ramsammy assured, while noting that the issue is one of urgency, which he would address soon.

The GuySuCo statement disclosed that the corporation has realized that ever since the dismissal of the staff members, approximately half of the junior staff establishment attached to the field and factory has been on strike demanding the reinstatement of their colleagues.

As such, through their union, GuyuCo has advised those employees on strike that it would not vary its position in light of the seriousness of the offences allegedly committed by their colleagues, and urged that the workers immediately cease their current strike action.
Written By Ravin Singh