GAWU advocates for financial support for sugar workers

COVID-19 outbreak

…as GuySuCo examining estates’ closure

The Guyana Sugar Corporation is examining closing its estates and suspending the crop, indefinitely, as it takes measures to protect its works from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, according to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

Sugar workers during the protest action on Thursday

GAWU along with National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on Friday met with several senior GuySuCo officials in an effort to discuss a way forward to tackle the effects of COVID-19.
GAWU has written to the Corporation asking that all operations be temporarily suspended and workers be supported until the COVID-19 crisis is overcome.
At the meeting, the Corporation’s CEO, Dr Harold Davis informed the workers’ union that the situation was regrettable but the company understood the workers’ apprehensions at this time. Dr Davis informed that apart from sanitisation and other measures embraced to staunch the spread of the coronavirus, the company was examining providing reusable masks to all its workers.
GuySuCo is also in the process of acquiring apparatus to take employees’ temperature before commencing work as a means to identify possible infected persons and preventing them from working.
“He nevertheless shared that if the workers were uncomfortable coming to work, then the company would have no other choice than to suspend the crop for an unknown period. He said such an examination would be done on an estate-by-estate basis and in consultation with the workers,” GAWU said in a statement.
GAWU explained that they were appraised of the Corporation’s financial position and told that it does not make such support possible. However, the CEO informed the union leaders that he did share their concerns with Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder.
“He [Dr Davis] is, however, unsure of how the Minister will address the matter, or if he will address it at all. The GAWU nonetheless reiterates that sugar workers should, like all employees of the State, suffer no loss in pay. We believe that it is incumbent for the Administration to provide such support. We believe that in the absence of any support, workers would be forced to make ends meet and could find themselves in harm’s way. At this time, our Union calls on Minister Holder to sincerely address this burning concern of the workers. We remind him that five (5) years of no pay rise has eliminated the possibility for them to have any cushion in this crisis time and we urge that he proactively and strongly pursue this matter,” GAWU said.
GAWU indicated that it proposed to GuySuCo that the proposed pay raise be implemented with effect from January 1, 2020. However, the Union and the Corporation will continue to be engaged in discussions regarding retroactive payments for 2019.
GAWU strongly contends that the workers ought to be paid from January 1, 2019, and promised to continue to follow this issue up with GuySuCo. The company, on this score, has said it will consider the proposal as it remains committed to its offer and will accordingly advise the Union.
Only on Thursday, hundreds of sugar workers protested the Albion Estate, calling on GuySuCo to put measures in place to safeguard them against the deadly coronavirus along with one month’s leave with pay.
Arjuna Veersammy stated that the company has 50-60 persons huddled inside the estate truck despite many calls for social distancing. Another worker said that he is very worried about his health and the conditions that he might have to continue working under.