GuySuCo should consider rationally, realistically GAWU’s concerns

Dear Editor,
The GAWU has noted the remarks of GuySuCo’s Corporate Communications Manager, Ms Audreyanna Thomas, as were reported in the Guyana Times article titled “Albion Estate has 600 vacancies after 3000 workers dismissed” which was published on July 19, 2018.
The article quotes Ms Thomas as saying that GuySuCo would “…like to get attendance up to 100 percent”. This statement by the senior GuySuCo official is incredulous, to say the least, but serves to confirm the Massa-like mentality of the new GuySuCo. Obviously, consideration was not given to the difficult nature of the field work. At the same time, one notes that while the Corporation seeks to have all the workers present every day at work during the cropping period, during the out-of-crop period, it wishes that the workers stay home, and it manages to do so through the offering of depressed wages. From all appearances, the GuySuCo wants to suck cane and blow whistle.
We don’t know if it has dawned on GuySuCo that its attitude towards workers: through the freezing of wages; the discontinuation of incentive payments; open disrespect and flouting of agreements, laws and international conventions; a belligerent attitude to workers’ concerns, among other things, could be tolerated by the workers for only some time. As GAWU has warned before, workers can be driven to the point where they may well react to the situation in which they work and still starve. It seems that day and time is beckoning.
Incidentally, the corporation has the option of recruiting more than 600 workers who were formerly engaged at Rose Hall and Skeldon estates, and with the provision of transportation to those workers, the work establishment of Albion estate, which is 4,000 but has 3,100 on payroll, would be addressed.
We recognise, from the article, similar and most appropriate contentions were made by Region Six Chairman David Armogan in his address to the gathering. Indeed, we hope GuySuCo took sincere account of the Chairman’s remarks, as they reflect the reality of the situation sugar workers must contend with nowadays.
We fully endorse the Chairman’s remark when he said, “…a plan cannot operate by itself”. Indeed, it’s generally accepted that the best plans can be reduced to nothing if the people are not involved and committed to reaching the objectives. For us, it is simply upsetting that, so far, we have not yet received a copy of the plan Ms Thomas referred to, though we have sought a copy several weeks ago. But even more importantly is an apparent ignorance of the workers’ plight and concerns. We hope, even at this late stage, to finally obtain a copy of the plan that is touted.
We urge the Corporation to consider rationally and realistically our concerns at this time.

Yours faithfully,
Seepaul Narine
General Secretary
GAWU