-second crop to extend into January
The sugar corporation is proposing a maximum five per cent across-the-board wage hike in the industry tied to production and plans to extend the second crop to January.
These positions were announced yesterday by the Guyana Sugar Corporation as it remained 73,000 tonnes shy of its twice-revised target and industrial action continues to set it back. The current target is 264,000 tonnes.
With cane harvesters on strike at Enmore GuySuCo yesterday proposed a conditional 5% increase in wages and salaries to GAWU as long as the industry hits 270,000. The main sugar union GAWU is still to pronounce on this matter though it has been averse in the past to linking wage hikes to targets.
GuySuCo is also offering a three percent increase across the board if production falls between 246,000 and 269,000 tonnes, and should it dip below 250,000 tonnes the corporation has proposed a one-off, non-sustainable increase of 2 percent.
GAWU has been pressing for an increase of 15 percent, but the corporation is asking the union to reconsider the proposal “since it is clear that the industry’s ability to afford the proposed levels of increases is strained beyond its limit”.
GuySuCo said that its state of indebtedness, caused by low sugar production experienced in the past five years has been repeatedly communicated to the union during recent meetings, noting that while it has managed to gradually reduce its level of indebtedness, the outstanding figure remains substantial.
Union president, Komal Chand said GAWU’s membership would have to be consulted before any decision is made on the offer. He said the union is engaged in discussions with its membership at Enmore to have the issues there resolved.
Several cane-cutters at Enmore downed tools to protest the weekly sugar target at the East Coast estate among other issues; the harvesters went on strike on Saturday last to press for a reduction in the weekly sugar target which is close to 12,000 tonnes.
The sugar workers reportedly feel pressured to meet the target as the industry struggles to reach a revised target of 264,000 tonnes. This is the latest in a series of strikes to hit the industry. GuySuCo yesterday cancelled a planned meeting with GAWU to discuss wages and salaries saying that both parties have agreed not to negotiate under duress.
The corporation disclosed in a press statement that production is currently at 190,754 tonnes with only six weeks remaining before Christmas. The revised target is set at 264,000 tonnes and a two-week break is expected in the operation for the season, which will likely push the second crop into January 2011.
GuySuCo believes that 270,000 tonnes is an attainable target saying in its statement that all the canes need to be harvested. There is an availability of canes for the 2nd crop, GuySuCo said, but the corporation pointed to the low rate of attendance for the crop which is said to be 54%. According to the corporation, this has been the main contributor, apart from the frequently wet periods, for the crop’s production lagging so far behind.
“If the turnout was at the 80% level as estimated in our budgeted numbers, production would have been approximately 40,000 tonnes sugar more than what has been achieved for the year to date”, the corporation noted, adding that in this scenario, there would have been little threat of carrying forward canes to the first crop 2011.
GuySuCo is calling on the union and workers to understand the reality which currently confronts the industry and “reaffirm their commitment to work together with the Corporation towards achieving our targets”.
With respect to the Enmore strike Chand told Stabroek News yesterday that many workers have resumed working but that “a few gangs are still on strike”. He said the workers have put forward three issues as reasons for industrial action.
Sitting atop the issues raised was the sugar target and according to Chand, the workers are particularly vocal on this. He said the union fully supports its membership and is hoping to meet with officials at the sugar corporation to have the issues resolved.
The workers at Enmore are also calling for the dismissal of a supervisor at the estate and for better wages and salaries. Many of the workers are refusing to work under the supervisor and are holding out until the situation is remedied.
