TO register their disagreement with moves by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to have sugar workers attached to the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Estate transferred to Enmore Estate, workers picketed outside the corporation’s headquarters on Tuesday. The workers’ union, GAWU, in statement noted that GuySuCo at a meeting with GAWU on July 26, 2016, advised that the transfer would be imminent.
This announcement, the union said, came as a “complete surprise” to the union’s delegation, which included officials and shop stewards.
Further, GAWU pointed out that the announcement was not in accordance with what GuySuCo communicated to GAWU and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on April 12, 2016, about its intention to close several departments at the LBI Estate.
“Then, the corporation unequivocally said that the cane-cutters would not be transferred to Enmore Estate in response to a question from the unions,” the statement said.
In light of these developments, GAWU noted that both the workers and the union see the corporation’s newest position as a “betrayal,” which can contribute to eroding trust between the parties.
GAWU stated that the latest move comes on the heels of no wage increases for 2015, a minimized Annual Production Incentive last year, and the decision to close Wales Estate.
“Certainly, this is adding to growing discontent and lending to rising tensions in the industry,” GAWU stated.