–to put sugar workers’ interest first

THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) on Saturday hailed the collaboration between the government and the sugar unions to ensure that the issues which continue to plague the sugar industry are addressed.

In a statement to the media, GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis said that while the Union is pleased with the move by central government to interface with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) to achieve a common goal, there is need for the parties to remain at the table until all the issues are resolved.

“The instant meeting of the parties marks a positive step for the development of the nation [and] must be noted and encouraged,” Lewis said in his statement, adding that in the past, the government would have excluded stakeholders in their decision- making exercises.
He also, on behalf of the GTUC, called for politics to be removed from the sugar talks, as the interest and livelihoods of the workers are at stake.

“Resisting dilatory tactics, partisan up-manship, and extrication is critical to hammering out realistic agreement(s) on the way forward,” Lewis said. “The instant news must not be recorded as photo opportunity, but the beginning of good faith, and arriving at consensus.”
Noting that engagements such as the one which occurred on Friday between the government, led by President David Granger, and the two unions “can lead to a new political culture”, Lewis said:

STAY AT THE TABLE  
“GTUC calls on GAWU and NAACIE to remain at the table and ensure that proper representation is given to the workers, and by extension, their communities. Whatever decisions are taken will not only impact workers’ livelihood in the workplace, but also the communities within which they reside.”

Lewis said, too, that the only politics that must be played on sugar is one in the interest of the workers, industry and country.
“Cognisant of experience that informs the reservation that leaders are prone to talk the talk and not walk the talk, the parties must ensure initial engagement is not seen as merely a talk shop, followed by excuses to derail future engagement,” the GTUC stated.

But though encouraged by the “new development”, Lewis said the Union will continue to monitor the situation and hold both sides “collectively and individually to account for the workers’ welfare.”
“The attainment of social cohesion and good governance is possible in an environment where fundamental rights and freedoms, laws, and time-honoured principles are respected,” the GTUC concluded.

On Friday, the government announced that it will, this month-end, pay out some $1.931B to those sugar workers that have been made redundant. This pay-out will see approximately 46 per cent of the affected workers benefitting from the full payment of their severance packages, while the remaining 54 per cent will be paid half of their severance by the end of the month, and the other 50 per cent by the second half of the year.

Full severance
Full severance, the government said, will be paid to all workers who are owed $400,000 and below at the end of this month. The decision by the government to change its method of paying severance to the affected workers followed a meeting with the unions representing the interest of the workers, GAWU and NACCIE.

Additionally, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally urged displaced sugar workers to tap into a micro-financing scheme being managed by her ministry, and to also take advantage of the various training opportunities available, as they seek to rebuild their lives following the closure of some estates.
Ally, in a presentation before several senior government ministers and representatives of the GAWU and the NACCIE at the Ministry of the Presidency, said her ministry is deeply concerned about “the realities of the current situation facing GuySuCo”.

She said that her ministry stands ready to provide as much assistance as it can to the affected workers. “We are cognisant that many workers will now have to explore the idea of entering a new realm of employment,” Minister Ally said, adding: “And already we have given great consideration in a number of areas to go forward.”

Friday’s meeting was also attended by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder; Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; and Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma.