Workers attached to the Blairmont sugar estate are to return to work today after an agreement was reached between the Guyana Sugar Corporation and their union representative over payments.
The workers downed tools last Friday and this week after GuySuCo could not honour payments which were due to several workers. The payments related to a job evaluation which was undertaken by the corporation.
President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand, told this newspaper yesterday that the union met with GuySuCo yesterday afternoon to discuss the issue.
He said that following the discussions it was agreed that the strike would end and the workers will resume duties today.
He said that it was also agreed that grievances which may be brought to the attention of the union by the workers, will be addressed expeditiously by GuySuCo in the future.
GuySuCo reported in a press release on Tuesday that prior to the workers walking off the job last Friday, management advised the union representatives and workers in the factory compound that all outstanding payments will be made on Friday, August 31, and that the other issues are within the purview of discussion between the union and the corporation, in accordance with the grievance procedure. According to GAWU, the workers were becoming impatient since the corporation appeared to be foot-dragging on the issue.
As a result of the disruption of its operations since Friday, GuySuCo said it had already lost $13M in revenue.
