Dear Editor,
THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) wishes to state that the report in some sections of the media that the Corporation has been ignoring the Laws of Guyana and not engaging unions; or, more specifically, that the organization has been disregarding the ‘Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act’ (TESPA) by not engaging the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), is inaccurate.The Corporation would like to state that at no point did the organization act outside of the Laws of Guyana or contrary to the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. The Corporation met with both Unions and their delegations on January 20, 2016, and they were informed of the transition to be taking place at Wales Estate during the year.

The workers from the Crop Husbandry and Mechanical Tillage sections were individually spoken to during the period February 1-3, 2016, when they were further informed of the transition and the Corporation’s intention to retain their services to fill vacancies at Uitvlugt Estate in order to secure continuity of their employment.

Unfortunately, at the request of their Union, a few representatives of employees stayed away from these consultations. The workers who attended the meetings requested severance, refusing to take up work at the Uitvlugt Estate. During the period February 8-12, 2016, these workers were counselled by a Human Resources Management team for them to exercise the option for continuity of employment at Uitvlugt Estate. However, those sessions yielded little results.

As a result, the Corporation, on March 22, 2016, wrote GAWU, providing one month’s notice, and enclosed in the correspondence was a list of employees who opted for severance, along with other relevant information as stipulated by TESPA. This list was also copied to the Chief Labour Officer at the Ministry of Social Protection.

Similarly, notification was given to those employees who have opted for severance.
The Corporation wishes to state that from the tone of the press release sent by GAWU, one gets the impression that the workers being spoken about are employees of GAWU or the Unions. The interpretation is that GAWU was referring to the employees of GuySuCo as though they were their employees. GuySuCo is of the view that the Unions, particularly GAWU, are confused as to what are their roles and responsibilities as a workers’ representative body, as against GuySuCo, who is the employer.

This confusion is evident in the following statement that was published in the GAWU press release, which stated that, “…the workers and others remain committed to their cause of saving Wales Estate”.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. wishes to make it emphatically clear that these workers of whom the Union speaks are the employees of the Corporation, and GuySuCo hereby requests the Union to show due respect for established organizational boundaries and principles between management and union representation.

The Corporation’s goal is to develop an organization that is a profitable and sustainable business; where all employees, irrespective of whether they are unionized or not, and all of our stakeholders, will feel a greater sense of security.

However, as the Corporation grapples with the demands and realities of an industry in transition, it would be refreshing and enabling to be engaged by Unions which understand the current realities but also have a willingness to contribute towards the progression and forward thinking of the sugar corporation.

It would also be of tremendous benefit to the members of the Unions if the Unions display a balanced posture, reflective of an embodiment of considerations of both the challenges and the opportunities from the transitioning of the Wales Estate.

The Corporation finds the agenda of the Union to be questionable. The fact that it seems to be perpetrating a constant message of ‘gloom and doom’, as was mentioned in the following statement in the GAWU press release: “…those affected, including residents, will be forced to contend with economic deterioration, and many even with ruin, should the Wales Sugar factory and the 1,500 hectare cultivation be abandoned…”

Leadership at any level must be able to instill hope among its members, and encourage its members to take responsibility and to participate in the process of finding solutions, despite how daunting a situation might be.

GuySuCo implores the Unions to confront the realities facing the sugar industry, and embrace innovation to bring viability to the business and provide security of employment.

GUYANA SUGAR CORPORATION INC.