–pending outcome of meeting
Workers at the Wales sugar estate who were on strike over a change in their job description have returned to work tentatively pending the outcome of a meeting between the union representing them and GuySuCo.
Reports are that the workers, who are attached to the land preparation section of the estate, returned to work early yesterday following a meeting between one of their representatives and GuySuCo. The workers were supported by another section of the Wales estate two days ago – the mechanical workshop – which brought the total number of persons who were on strike to more than 50.
One of the workers told this newspaper yesterday that he and his colleagues were told by their representative to return to work following a meeting between the representative and officials of GuySuCo. According to him, the resumption is tentative as they are awaiting the outcome of a meeting scheduled for Monday between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), which represents them, and GuySuCo.
Stabroek News made several unsuccessful attempts to obtain a comment from GuySuCo on the issue. GAWU representatives also could not be reached.
GAWU’s General Secretary Seepaul Narine had told this newspaper on Tuesday that the union met the workers the day before to discuss the issue. He said GuySuCo had communicated with the union its intention to change work conditions from rate of work to time rate. He said workers knew of the ongoing discussion between the two sides, noting that a meeting was tentatively scheduled for October 12. He said work was expected to continue at the estate in the interim.
Constant industrial action in the sugar industry has contributed to dismal production in recent years.
