GEORGETOWN, Guyana– The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is defending the decision of sugar workers at the Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates that engaged in industrial action on Thursday, saying that their issues are similar and that they want the state-owned sugar company, Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) to “treat them equally and to have fairness in their policies.”
The largest trade union here said that workers at the Blairmont Estate are peeved over a decision by the sugar company to selectively award pay rises, noting that senior workers had confirmed that “some of their recently confirmed colleagues were given pay rises while same was not afforded to them.
“As a result, the new foremen/forewomen are enjoying rates-of-pay over their colleagues who have functioned in their posts for longer periods,” GAWU said, adding that GuySuCo had informed that the selected workers sat an examination and, based on their scores, were awarded additional pay increments.
“The long-serving foremen/forewomen, in that vein, sought an opportunity also to sit the examination to determine whether they could benefit from further increments like their colleagues.”
The union said that at a meeting earlier this week with GuySuCo, “this suggestion was reiterated,” and “surprisingly, the league was told that the company was not inclined in such direction.
“The response upset the workers who felt that the sugar company was not treating them fairly and inequitably. Though the Corporation said it would respond, the workers are convinced that given the expressions and demeanor of the company at the meeting, their concerns would be treated insincerely,” the union added.
It said regarding the workers at the Uitvlugt Estate, the issue is the same where workers indicated that some of their colleagues received reportedly significant pay increases in recent times.
It said that the workers had been told that the matter would be looked into, and when they turned up for the meeting on Thursday, “the management informed it could not offer a response…and remained evasive.
“This stance angered the workers who felt that the management demonstrated that it was unconcerned about the issues raised.
“Both the Blairmont and Uitvlugt workers are not averse to their colleagues receiving pay increments. They shared that they are pleased that the Corporation has found it worthy to recognize its workers’ hard work and dedicated efforts. They are hopeful that better sense can prevail, and the Corporation equally implements policies for all workers to be treated fairly,” GAWU added.
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