THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has agreed to meet with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) to discuss increased wages for workers, but warned that these talks will not happen if workers remain on strike. Despite GAWU informing the corporation that the strike had been called off at least on three estates, there was still strike action, GuySuCo said, warning that this action could scuttle any talks on wage increases.
During a telephone interview yesterday with this publication, Chief Industrial Relations Manager Deodat Sukhu related that, “We have written the union inviting them Friday for a meeting, but we notified them that workers from Albion, Rose Hall and East Demerara estates are still on strike… and have thus put a little hindrance on production.”
This was confirmed by Head of GAWU Komal Chand, who disclosed that, “Some cane-cutters from three estates have not turned out in full, we have to see what will happen tomorrow (today) …as currently we are trying to sort out a matter at the East Demerara estate where it is claimed there is a price dispute.” Chand said nevertheless GAWU was in contact with its officers on the ground and expected that all workers would be out today.
However, if the strike continues, GuySuCo says they will be forced to suspend the meeting scheduled for Friday. Due to the strike, Sukhu said production had been affected, noting, “we have seen for the past five to six weeks an increase in production. It was close to 15,000-16,000 tonnes of sugar per week. However for this week only 2000 tonnes have been produced, when normally at this time of the week we are normally recording 5000-6000 tonnes… the strike resulted in an approximate loss of 2000-3000 tonnes.”
Meanwhile, the union in a statement welcomed the meeting, describing it as a “long overdue” step and that the union had accepted the invitation. “It is our fervent hope that this meeting is the start of negotiations in earnest on the wages issue for 2015.”
Noting that the three-day strike action was solid, GAWU said it demonstrated the unity of the industry’s workers in defence of their interests and rights. “We feel that this action, in a small way, influenced the meeting of GAWU/GuySuCo Friday.”
On the table for discussions are GAWU’s proposals for wage increases for 2015 and possible adjustments to certain fringe benefits. “We are hopeful that these negotiations will bring positive and satisfactory results, especially in the context of the exceptional performances of the workers during the crop which resulted in the surpassing of weekly targets on a number of occasions,” GAWU stated.