GAWU rejects WIN’s claims of unpaid sugar workers, salary cuts

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has rejected claims advanced by the opposition political party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), regarding several salary issues affecting unionised workers across the sugar industry. In a statement over the weekend, the WIN political party posted a statement on Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, alleging that over 60 workers at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate have gone three months without being paid while senior staff across all four estates are facing salary cuts. Specifically, WIN alleged that 60 workers at various levels attached to the Uitvlugt Estate have not received salaries for the past three months. The organisation also claimed that senior management staff across all four estates-Uitvlugt, Albion, Blairmont and Rose Hall-have had their salaries slashed by nearly $100,000. In its statement, WIN called out the Head of GAWU, Seepaul Narine, for failing to provide proper representation to affected workers. GAWU, in a statement on Monday, rejected these assertions. Responding to the allegations that some 60 workers have gone three months without pay, the union said: “This is certainly news to us, as no worker, much less sixty, within the Union’s bargaining units in the sugar industry has indicated that they were not paid for any period. Had such concerns really existed, the Union would have long represented these workers. We must caution that we are unable to offer any comment for sugar workers not within the Union’s bargaining unit.” “Regarding the senior staffers, apart from the section of this category of workers represented by the Union, we cannot shed any light on the contentions advanced. We must however, highlight that the senior staffers under our Union’s umbrella have not had any reduction in their earnings or conditions.”
GAWU has dismissed claims that sugar workers were misled or taken advantage of regarding wage adjustments. The union also stated that the quantum of pay increases had been known since 2024, when it signed a three-year wage and salary agreement with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). According to GAWU, the agreement clearly outlined salary increases for 2024, 2025, and 2026, and as such, it sees no basis for suggestions that workers were deceived. The union added that such claims, which it attributed to a political grouping, were not surprising. The union also responded to criticism directed at its President, Seepaul Narine, who was accused of failing to adequately represent GAWU members within the sugar industry. GAWU maintained that Narine and the union have been actively representing the interests of their members and stated that they do not require advice from the political party WIN or its affiliates on how to conduct their work. “We urge WIN and its officials not to engage in desperate acts of deception and obfuscation. GAWU remains proud of its efforts to protect union members and advance their rights and conditions. We cannot fail to note that, as WIN feigns concern for sugar workers, in its midst are several personalities who stood silently and, from all impressions, supported the closure of estates and the sending onto the breadline of thousands of sugar workers. The contradiction is evident, and the crocodile tears are visible.” Additionally, the union addressed concerns raised about disciplinary action taken against two workers from the Uitvlugt Estate. GAWU clarified that the measures were consistent with its constitution and were executed in keeping with due process. It further noted that it does not comment publicly on internal matters.