The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) recorded one of its lowest number of strikes for the past five years.
Workers on strike over the decision to close Wales Sugar Estate
Saddled with multibillion dollar debts, the Sugar Corporation often finds difficulties in meeting workers’ demands which traditionally result in frequent industrial actions supported by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).
According to GuySuCo’s Annual Report 2015, there were 193 strikes which are the lowest for the past five years’ average of 220.
Notably, given the challenges faced by GuySuCo last year with the change of Government, there were many uproars among its employees which were primarily because of the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate, wages and salary matters as well as for the Annual Production Incentive (API).
The Report outlined that there were two major work stoppages for the year and those were the three days and seven days industry-wide strikes for wages and salaries and API, respectively.
It noted that those two strikes contributed significantly to the increase in “man days” lost for the year with 19,799 and 24,802 man days, respectively.
GuySuCo explained that while it surpassed its sugar production target in the second crop, it was not without its challenges, since a greater portion of the strikes were recorded during this period – 59.1 per cent (114) to be exact.
“The cane harvesters’ demands for exorbitant prices, acceptance of work and demand for cut and stack in 2015 accounted for a total of 155 strikes with 52,021 man days lost at (80.3 per cent and 74.2 per cent respectively),” the Report highlighted.
The Report also surmised that the main cause of strikes are pricing/acceptance of work, wages or incentives, demand to cut and stack as well as a number of reasons that vary across the industry.
“Draw planters refused to draw down canes claiming that the canes do not have the required cuttings; cane transport operators and mates expressing dissatisfaction with the condition of tyres and tubes; harvesters refusing to take up work claiming that their gang is being split too often; Increase in wages and salaries; payment for overrun canes; demand for personal protective equipment and tools; in solidarity with their colleague who were summarily dismissed,” an excerpt summarised.
In the Chairman’s Report, it stated that “2015 was a year heralding radical change for the GuySuCo”.
The Chairman stated that GuySuCo had many challenges including a weakened and demoralised management team, a very adversarial Industrial Relations climate, low sugar prices, declining production levels, high operational costs, serious loss making, and consequently a major liquidity crisis, and a huge debt burden.
“The Board was very encouraged by some of the achievements of the Corporation during the second half of the year 2015. The second crop’s production reflected a significant improvement over previous years. There was a greater sense of purpose across the industry. However, the underlying and deep rooted problems remained which would best be addressed through the reorganisation process. A new strategic direction for the Corporation is currently being developed,” the Chairman mentioned.
The Chairman noted that the year ended with “renewed, enthused management and staff”, as well as improved cane yields experienced in the cultivations and sugar recoveries in the factories, resulting in the second crop 2015’s sugar production budget being surpassed by 3627 tonnes.
