Dear Editor,
I have always written on behalf of sugar workers supporting their just cause. A few days ago I wrote again calling on the Coalition Government to subsidize the sugar workers, specifically in relation to their electricity bill and water bills in light of an unconscionable wage freeze by GuySuCo and which seems to have the support of the government.
The Government so far seems to have a hands-off approach when it comes to the workers in the Sugar Industry but not so with regards to public servants whom they have offered at least a 10 per cent wage increase which can at least offset the rate on inflation. Is there a political reason for this? The public servants are no doubt poorly paid and with even that increase and should have been given more.
On the other hand, the sugar workers were promised on the campaign trail that they will be given a 20 per cent increase but unashamedly they are being given zero since the Coalition took office. Are we to believe that the coalition is unaware of what was happening then in Guysuco? If so, then they were a very poor opposition and it seems with the present scheme of things that they are even a poorer government. They were fully aware of every negative issue affecting GuySuCo, but yet they were willing to lie and deceive in order to get the sugar workers and the public servants votes. The sugar workers are now expendables!
However, another grave concern is the calling of the recent strikes by the union even before the wage talks went underway with GuySuCo. Was this a sensible move by the Union? Was this a strategy used to force GuySuCo to capitulate to their demands? If so it will only serve to create an atmosphere of hostility prior to the negotiations. Strike actions should be the last resort since it can only further hurt an already feeble industry which has already seen its production drastically falling by 30 per cent or by 23,624 tonnes. It must be noted that the strike actions came at a time when the sugar industry was beginning to gain momentum and was producing to expectations.
Unfortunately, this momentum was lost at Albion Estate which had successfully achieved its target two weeks preceding that strike. In those two weeks the sugar workers at Albion took home two extra days pay; something which seemed unachievable since the beginning of this crop. The workers were very ecstatic about this. But what is more unacceptable is the fact that after the strike called by GAWU on October 17, an illegal strike was called at Albion Estate which was not sanctioned by the Union, and workers were deceived into believing that it was called by the Union. This was on Thursday, October 20. This illegal strike made it impossible for the Estate to achieve its target for the week causing it to lose in excess of 300 tonnes of sugar for that particular day. It also caused more than 2,500 workers to lose a day’s pay, in addition to a bonus day’s pay which they would have received if the target was achieved.
According to information received, this illegal strike was called by a GAWU Representative who is also an NDC Councillor and this was not the first time that this particular individual has done this illegality. On all previous occasions and this time as well, the Estate Manager simply called this individual and warned him. This is highly ludicrous! How can GAWU tolerate this man to act in this totally irresponsible manner? How can GuySuCo tolerate this man for so long? I am calling on the CEO, Mr Hanoman, to conduct an investigation into this matter as to the reason why this man is receiving management’s favour. It is a fact that workers have been dismissed by management for committing far lesser crimes. This man has committed a crime against his fellow workers, against GuySuCo and against his country. Such unpatriotic actions should be dealt with condignly. Illegal strikes must not be tolerated!
In conclusion, I would like GuySuCo’s management and the Union to sit at the negotiating table and sensibly work out at least a minimal differential wage increase. There are some workers who are barely taking home a wage which can take care of them and their families and these workers can be treated with some preference. Then there are some workers, such as the cane cutters who have to toil very hard to eke out a reasonable day’s pay. Therefore, it is time that differential wage increase takes the place of across the board increases in view of the terrible financial position of GuySuCo. Moreover, this does not hinder the Government to come forward and do its part, the bailouts do not end up in workers’ pockets and that is what their primary concern is – money in their pockets!
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
