Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand yesterday came in for criticism from sugar workers at the Enmore Estate, even as the union led a protest for the Holiday-With-Pay (HWP) payout.
About 30 workers bearing placards gathered at Enmore to express their dissatisfaction over the delayed payment as well as an agreement for salary increases that they say does not take into account their years of service.
Workers chanted slogans such as “No money no work” and “Suspend the big boys’ salary and pay the workers.” The day before, many indicated their unwillingness to take part in the GAWU, which coincided with the last day of their three-day strike over the proposed increases. The workers had a tough reception for GAWU and its General Secretary Seepaul Narine and yesterday they turned their attention to Chand, questioning his commitment to them, while noting that his role as PPP/C MP raised questions about commitment to workers’ interests.
“Look how Komal Chand hold up hand with Sam Hinds, he nah care fuh a’we. You nah see how he deh good? Is a’we got to suffer,” a worker angrily remarked, while pointing to a photograph of Chand with his PPP affiliates at the FITUG May Day Rally this year.
When contacted yesterday Chand refused to speak to Stabroek News, stating, “I will not comment on any issues Stabroek News may have to raise.”
The worker began a three-day strike on Tuesday as they were dissatisfied with the agreement was signed, between GuySuCo and GAWU, which stipulates that every worker will be paid a 2% increase to their salary for every year they were underpaid, based on a job evaluation. The workers were dissatisfied with a clause of the agreement that stated “the increase will be paid to the workers on their present job” as opposed to their years of service.
On the issue of the increases, Narine had told the workers that GAWU made an agreement with GuySuCo to go over those queries in a timely manner.
