…as Uitvlugt Estate strike continues over working conditions 
Some 162 sugar workers attached to the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate downed their tools for a second day over a dispute surrounding pay and other working conditions. Guyana Times was told on Tuesday that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is refusing to give workers $2700 as their six-hour pay. As such, the De Kindren (DK-8) gang refused to perform duties, highlighting that there are many vines growing among the canes in addition to deep mud in the fields owing to the continued rains.
Though grinding has been affected, another gang of 141 workers at the estate is said to be working in the place of their colleagues. However, GuySuCo is not saying how the shortfall of 162 workers will directly impact operations.
Meanwhile, union representatives met with management on behalf of workers on Tuesday morning in a bid to settle the impasse. When Guyana Times contacted Uitvlugt Manager Yudhisthira Mana for a comment on the Sugar Corporation’s position on the matter, he said he was in a meeting and disconnected the call.
Last week, workers nationwide were not paid their weekly wages but following reports by this newspaper, GuySuCo finally honoured its obligation and employees received their salaries this week. Representatives reportedly said they were told that funds were not available. Guyana Times has made numerous attempts to contact the entity’s Finance Director Paul Bhim for a comment on the matter but to no avail.
Severance pay protest
Meanwhile, the workers’ representative body, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) announced on Tuesday that some of the dismissed workers from Skeldon and Rose Hall Estates staged a picketing exercise outside of the Prime Minister’s Office in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) at Port Mourant. According to GAWU’s disclosure, workers are demanding that Government settle the outstanding severance payments with them. These workers, along with their colleagues at Skeldon, have been owed since December 29, 2017, but have only received half of their payments. This issue is at the centre of a civil suit at the High Court which contends that Government’s half-pay is unlawful.
The protesting former employees claimed that the funds from the first half of their payment have already been exhausted as they have not been able to secure steady employment. The protesters also vented their vexation of President David Granger’s recent comments that their payments were taking away from other sectors.
“They said they found the President’s remarks most disappointing as they pointed that they are not asking for any concession but only seeking what they are lawfully entitled to receive. They related that the President’s remarks cannot be disconnected from the actions of the GuySuCo which through its attorneys are seeking to invoke all sorts of red herrings regarding the court matter taken by the GAWU on their behalf seeking that the outstanding payments be honoured at last,” the union stated.
GAWU’s members are urged the President to visit their villages and homes and hear first-hand about the suffering rather than making “outlandish and clearly irresponsible statements,” especially given the hardships the former sugar workers have faced. Among the challenges ex-sugar worker face include the inability to fully pay bills and inadequate and proper meals.
“The now former workers urged the Government to no longer continue to break the law and settle, without further delay, its indebtedness to them. While they said this would provide some temporary reprieve, they also look forward to further assistance from the Administration to help them to permanently overcome the challenges they face,” GAWU added.
