After demanding improved working conditions and a resolution to a pay dispute, sugar workers attached to the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, on the West Coast of Demerara, ended their strike action on Wednesday. This came after the 162 members of De Kindren (DK-8) gang took industrial action over the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) reportedly refusing to give $2700 for a six-hour pay.
The Uitvlugt Sugar Estate
According to information received on Wednesday, managers divided the DK-8 gang into two groups to carry out duties over a longer period of time. As such, the DK-8 gang will perform duties to achieve 60 punts for ‘cut and stock’ and 22 punts for ‘cut and roll’. This comes after reports that grinding was being affected by the industrial action.
Though they agreed to perform tasks, workers said they are still affected by the many vines growing among the canes, in addition to deep mud in the fields owing to the continued rainfall. The Uitvlugt workers were also frustrated when the Sugar Corporation paid their weekly salaries four days late. Some of these workers were transferred to Uitvlugt when Government ceased operations at Wales Estate in December 2016 under austerity measures.
In recent days, GuySuCo did not say how the shortfall of 162 workers would affect operations. However, union representatives have been meeting with management on behalf of workers. Last week, workers nationwide were not paid their weekly wages but following reports by this newspaper, GuySuCo finally honoured its obligations and employees received their salaries this week. Representatives reportedly said that they were told that funds were not available.
Protest for severance
Meanwhile, dismissed workers from Skeldon and Rose Hall Estates staged a picketing exercise outside of the Prime Minister’s Office in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) at Port Mourant on Tuesday. The ex-workers continued to demand that Government settles the outstanding severance payments to them. They have been owed since December 29, 2017 but have only received half of their payments. This issue is at the centre of a civil suit at the High Court which contends that Government’s half-pay is unlawful.
Many of the protesting former employees have claimed that the funds from the first half of their payment have already been exhausted as they have not been able to secure steady employment. The protesters had also vented their vexation of President David Granger’s recent comments that their payments were taking away from other sectors.
