…NAACIE says as PPP ratchets up attacks on Chand, GAWU

THE National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) has come to the side of the embattled President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union, saying that the recent attacks on the union and the leadership are designed to weaken the cause of the sugar workers.

NAACIE in a statement said after reading what can only be described as a mischievous and obviously misleading article titled “Sugar workers call for Komal Chand to resign,” which appeared in the Guyana Times of January 23, 2018…“our union which also attended the January 19, 2018 meeting with the Government finds it necessary to clear the air and set the record straight and point out that both NAACIE and GAWU did not agree with the Government to pay the workers their severance payments in instalments.”

According to NAACIE both unions insisted that the workers ought to receive their payments at once in keeping with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. For the two unions this is sacrosanct and, therefore, it is disappointing that some persons have decided to engage in such mischief-making.

“We cannot help but wonder what their real motivations are,” NAACIE said. “Our union and the GAWU have shared fraternal relations which go back decades and, in recent times, have stood together to denounce and condemn the plans by GuySuCo and the Government to reduce the footprint of the sugar industry. We, like the GAWU, have argued that the decision is wrong and poorly thought out and will bring more bad than good.

We have endorsed GAWU’s plans advanced at the February 17, 2017 meeting with Government officials, recognising the several positive suggestions to retain and safeguard the sugar industry. Similarly, we were equally impressed by the GAWU’s presentation which was ably presented by the Union’s President, Mr Komal Chand at the January 19, 2018 meeting. That presentation, we noted, advanced several critical considerations to protect and safeguard the well-being of the workers who have been affected by the callous sugar plans. That presentation as well was also endorsed by our Union.”

The NAACIE said too that it recognised the importance of meeting and engaging with the Government, as the owner of the sugar industry. “We took into account that engagements with employer are part of any union’s normal activities and critical to representing effectively workers concerns and demands.

Had we chosen not to meet with the Government then, in effect, we would have given up another arena for struggling on behalf of our members interests at this difficult time for them and their families. Bearing such important considerations in mind, engagement with the Government will be done in good faith and with the workers’ interest and future as our motivation.”

NAACIE reiterated that it will continue to work in the best interest of its members. “We acknowledge and recognise the importance in these times of working with our sister Union in the sugar industry. We recognise too that various efforts will be afoot, coming from different quarters, to weaken and undermine our unity and militancy. Our unions have a sound understanding of our members’ views with respect to their welfare matters and with our constant meetings with them we believe that they are fully supportive of the leadership given by union officers, including Mr. Komal Chand.”

According to NAACIE the public attack on Chand is unwarranted, unfair and can be seen as divisive with the intention of weakening the workers’ cause. “We are happy with the astuteness, courage and sacrifice in his representation of workers’ cause. It is no wonder that Mr. Chand is seen as one of the country’s foremost labour leader. Vigilance is our watchword as we continue our struggle for the workers’ rights and benefits.”

Additionally, GAWU said in a release that on Wednesday at a meeting of the East Demerara Estate GAWU Branch, apart from discussing the agenda items, branch members expressed their upset and dismay by the contents of the Guyana Times’ article. According to the union the branch unanimously approved a resolution disassociating itself from the sentiments that were reportedly expressed by four workers of East Demerara Estate and expressed its full support for the Union’s work and actions in opposing the plans of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. minimising the industry.

GAWU
Meanwhile, during an interview with this newspaper Chand said GAWU would be delighted to financially support laid-off sugar workers, but the union “just does not have the funds”. Apart from allegations of poor representation and more recently an alleged call by sugar workers for his resignation, the President and the union have been called out for collecting “millions of dollars” in union dues yet failing to be able to help workers. It is alleged that some $30M in union dues is collected every month by GAWU to represent sugar workers.

GAWU itself has failed to declare the sums being collected from the Guyana Sugar Corporation on behalf of workers despite being asked. Instead, Chand told the Guyana Chronicle that all transactions conducted by GAWU could be found with the relevant agencies. He said the union is the only one fully compliant with the law. “We have our records audited by the Auditor General. Up to 2016, 2017… we have to send in our statements, we have to wait on the bank statement and a copy of that is lodged with the registrar…our transparency and accountability being above board,” Chand insisted.

He explained that the agency has a right to receive union dues. “Everybody who is working has a right to collect his or her salary. And if one salary is 10 times those at the bottom, he has a right to receive it.” “We are saying that they are calling on us to disburse money to sugar workers, we are spending a lot of money to represent the cause.” To be from one corner of the sugar belt to another one, to have programmes on television, organise resistance action and to run the affairs of the union is a lot to do and it costs money, Chand related.

“GAWU and all unions put together on what they are collecting cannot disburse a weekly allowance (to sugar workers) in keeping with their earnings.” Chand nonetheless believes a smear campaign has begun against him by the alleged pro-PPP newspaper Guyana Times. He does not believe that sugar workers called for his resignation, nor did they say he has lost his zeal, as was quoted in the newspaper report carried days ago.

Another article from that newspaper quoted commentator Ramon Gaskin as calling for Chand’s resignation. Gaskin believes that Chand has not given proper leadership to the workers. He is incapable and should resign, Gaskin posited.

He said GAWU under Chand’s leadership has spent more time writing to newspapers and responding to letters than actually coming up with tangible ideas to help ease the suffering of sugar workers. It is believed that Chand’s opposition partners are not happy about him agreeing to work with the government over the payment of severances and the restricting of the ailing sugar industry.

The Guyana Times article quoted Gaskin as saying, “They (GAWU) came out of a meeting with the President (David Granger) talking about being happy. Happy about what? The severance pay should be paid in full. They betrayed the interest of the workers, absolutely.”