GAWU accuses GuySuCo of “foot dragging” on Albion, Blairmont wage increase

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has accused the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) of dragging its foot on the issue of wage increases for workers at the Albion and Blairmont Estates.

GAWU said that workers at both the Albion and Blairmont Estates in Berbice staged picketing exercises on Monday morning to call on GuySuCo to stop pussyfooting on the issue of their wage increase.
The Union explained that salary negotiations have been ongoing for years and the Corporation seems to not be interested in bringing an end to the discussions. It has been several months now since GAWU and GuySuCo have resumed discussions on wage and salary improvements and yet it appears there has not been any movement on the part of the corporation.
During the meetings with the new GuySuCo administration, GAWU informed that discussions should recommence on the issues surrounding the 2019 pay rise since it was agreed to and the workers were asked to exercise patience while the corporation comes up with a solution.

GAWU explained that in correspondence on January 28, 2021, it reminded the corporation of its undertaking to respond to the Union and the workers. The corporation, at that time, communicated that it was still engaged in consultations.
At a meeting on March 9, GAWU and GuySuCo resumed discussions.
Workers and their representatives, because of the protracted time for the resumption of discussions, expected GuySuCo to bring concrete plans to the table but that was not the case.
In a statement, GAWU said: “That expectation was dashed as the Corporation sought the Union to table proposals on wages/salaries for years 2019, 2020, and 2021. The GAWU’s delegation, which comprised representatives from the various estates along with Union officials, was most upset as it pointed out that the GuySuCo was already in receipt of proposals for years 2019 and 2020. Therefore, it found the request bizarre and bluntly refused to accede to GuySuCo’s demand.”
The workers’ vexations were heightened after the corporation, maybe inadvertently, disclosed the quantum of pay rise proposed for 2021 but yet refused to put it on the table.
Workers of Albion Estate also called on the corporation to appropriately award them for their production achievement on week ending March 13, 2021. Albion Estate realised approximately 92 per cent of its weekly target and the workers are demanding a half day’s pay as Weekly Production Incentive as was given to workers of Uitvlugt Estate workers when they realised their target.
The Albion workers pointed out that in the week prior when Uitvlugt Estate also achieved 92 per cent of its weekly target, the corporation approved a similar payment. Subsequently, the Uitvlugt workers received a full day’s pay after GuySuCo approved a reduction in the weekly production target similar to what was previously approved for Albion and Blairmont Estates. The Albion workers are, therefore, seeking that the precedent be upheld.
The Union said that the thousands of sugar workers remain committed to the success of the sugar industry, however, it recognises too that the workers also play a critical role in the attainment of that success and, therefore, the procrastination seen cannot be helpful in this regard.