…says approach to resolving issues putting 8000 workers livelihood at risk

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) says it is appalled that even during a global crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when the survival of many businesses and the livelihoods of millions of employees around the world are threatened, that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) would condone its sugar workers engaging in unnecessary industrial action without following the established industrial procedure.

The factory employees at the Uitvlugt Estate have left their jobs, to take strike action, without adhering to the terms of the ‘Collective Labour Agreement’ between the GAWU and GuySuCo, the sugar corporation said in a release Friday. It said as of to date, the Corporation has made 34,624 tonnes of sugar from its estimated 46,476 tonnes. Uitvlugt Estate has completed grinding and is into the critical maintenance period process that GuySuCo’s management has the responsibility to organise efficiently. The management and staff at Albion and Blairmont Estates are still in operation, to harvest as much of the crop, as is possible, based on the weather conditions.

According to GuySuCo, production at these estates was interrupted by three weeks of Industrial action during the peak harvesting period when the weather was much more conducive. Management has made a business decision to continue grinding at the abovementioned two factories, beyond the previously set date for the end of the First Crop, for as long as the weather permits, in an attempt to satisfy customers’ demands and to reduce the still extensive areas of cane that have, unfortunately, remained unharvested on these estates, at a cost of much- needed revenue to the Industry.

“It is absolutely necessary, particular during the COVID-19 pandemic, that GuySuCo operates its business with much prudence and that stability is maintained. The management of GuySuCo is cognisant of the fact that it has 7,000 to 8,000 employees and their families, 6,000 pensioners, over 200 businesses, and Unions with their own employees; all of whom are dependent either directly or indirectly on the viability [of] its business.

Additionally, the Corporation maintains the drainage and irrigation system between Skeldon in Berbice to the Boerasirie Canal or the West Bank of Demerara. Farmers and residents in communities are dependent on the efficient functioning of GuySuCo, in order to prevent agricultural crops and communities in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6, from flooding.”

The Corporation said too that it is concerned that the current action of GAWU to condone the employees at Uitvlugt Estate to maintain unwarranted strike action, could threaten its ability to fulfil all of the responsibilities above and jeopardise the readiness of the factory for resuming operations in the 2020 Second Crop.

“Specifically, with reference to the claims by GAWU relative to employees in the factory at the Uitvlugt Estate, on the point that employees are not being provided with transportation after the 18:00hrs curfew time, is inaccurate, since the factory employees are currently working on a shift from 07:00 – 16:00 hours which ends before the 18:00hrs curfew. However, one of the reasons for the strike action is that the employees are demanding to work for two five-hour shifts: from 07:00hrs to 12:00hrs and 12:00hrs to 17:00hrs, and still be paid for eight hours. It is disturbing that the Union would condone this unreasonable and unproductive position.”

“This the management cannot agree to, on two points: One the employees cannot work five hours and be paid for eight hours; and two, during this out-of-crop period, the Uitvlugt Estate has an enormous amount of maintenance to complete. During the First Crop, the factory encountered 356 stoppages which resulted in a loss of 415.68 hours of downtime, during the 10.13 weeks of grinding. The Corporation finds it disturbing that the Union, as a partner, does not place the same level of importance that its management has placed on conducting a thorough maintenance on the factory, so that the Second Crop will be more productive.”

GuySuCo said relative to preventative measures on COVID-19 in the factory at Uitvlugt Estate, as well as the other two estates, Albion and Blairmont, GuySuCo has developed a ‘COVID-19 Policy’, which addresses training, quarantine and working from home. A COVID-19 Task Force was established to design, implement and monitor the policy.

The Corporation has also ordered 14,000 face masks for its employees. Temperature Guns are being used at the main entrances and other areas on all locations. Several wash basins were constructed on all locations and soap, hand-washing liquid, as well as hand sanitizers are provided. Daily education and awareness sessions are also held, with various categories of staff.

On the point of proper social distancing in the Uitvlugt Estate factory, employees in the factory are rarely required to work less than 5 feet apart under the current circumstances. GuySuCo is considered an essential service, under Manufacturing, hence the Corporation has communicated to the Guyana Police Force that several categories of its employees are required to work beyond the 18:00hrs curfew period, and relevant employees have been issued with forms of identification, to this effect.