Rose Hall sugar workers down tools
Some of the sugar workers during the strike on Thursday
Some of the sugar workers during the strike on Thursday

— GuySuCo urges GAWU to stop the instigation 

SOME 500 CANE harvesters from the Rose Hall Estate on Thursday took industrial action, condemning a decision by the estate’s management to not offer them work last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The workers made their dissatisfaction known by staging a protest outside the estate’s Administrative Office.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in a statement said the other estates provided work for the workers during the days they were not offered work.
The union went on to accuse the management of Rose Hall Estate of causing the strike action by refusing to meet with a delegation of elected workers’ representatives on Wednesday.
“During the workers’ protest, armed police were summoned to the scene, though at no time was the protest disorderly, even for the brief moment the workers occupied the entrance leading to the estate’s office.
“They sought to have a meeting between the Management and their elected representatives. The workers’ request was ignored. It was reported that one or two senior managers vacated their offices at the time to ensure that no meeting could have taken place,” GAWU’s statement noted.
During the protest, the Estate’s Human Resources Manager informed the disgruntled workers that the Estate Manager would meet with five workers.
“He insisted that the elected representatives would not be facilitated at the meeting. This communication incensed the workers and the police had to escort the estate’s personnel to his office.”
According to GAWU, cane harvesters from the other gangs, having heard about the refusal of management to engage the workers’ representatives decided to strike and protest on Thursday.
The workers maintain their demand that the Estate Manager meet with their representatives to address matters of adequate work being provided them.
“GAWU considers that the workers at Rose Hall Estate stand on good grounds and looks forward to the manager and the representatives having a meeting without delay rather than to allow the strike to escalate.”
GuySuCo’s response
Meanwhile, GuySuCo in a statement explained that the reason the workers were not offered any work was due to the fact that on Mondays, the Rose Hall factory undergoes statutory maintenance.
“It is important to note, that sugar production is a rigorous, continuous process; therefore, if one shift strikes, it affects the entire production process.”
The statement further noted that since the beginning of the crop, GAWU President Komal Chand has been on record as stating that the Union’s General Council has sanctioned a strike every Tuesday within the industry.
“Notwithstanding, in an effort to minimise the deterioration of canes burnt and to reduce possible losses resulting from these strikes, the corporation has been taking relevant precautionary measures.”
The sugar company noted that the strike action has been led by GAWU’s central and local officers and continues to deplete production targets, denying workers the opportunity to achieve the weekly production incentive that they would normally earn.
GuySuCo claimed that GAWU’s central and local officers breached the normal Industrial Relations Protocol and Practices by escalating the protest action and taking it into the estate’s compound.
“A few workers, behaving in an unruly manner, proceeded to enter the administrative building accompanied by their union representatives and carried out actions which were inappropriate and of great cause for concern. This breach of the Industrial Relations Protocols and Practices has raised the question of what are the real motives of GAWU, since the higher the productivity of the workforce, the greater the benefits for all stakeholders, including GAWU.”
The sugar company is of the view that workers at Rose Hall Estate are being severely misled.
“The corporation is once again imploring its employees to think of their families and the communities which are depending on the viability of the industry and to allow good sense to prevail by encouraging GAWU to make smarter decisions on matters relating to their livelihood.”
GuySuCo has since written GAWU expressing its disappointment on the conduct of its officers who led the group of striking workers to invade the estate’s compound and administrative offices.
The estate management has since agreed to meet with a union delegation today, providing there is full resumption.

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