Cane cutters from the Uitvlugt Estate staged a picketing exercise yesterday, calling on the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) management to provide them with a “fair week’s work”, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said.
In a press release yesterday, the Union stated that during last week, the cane cutters were informed that they were only being provided with approximately three days of work, which is unusual in the cropping period, since maximum efforts would usually be pursued to ensure the timely harvesting of canes.
“The situation at Uitvlugt is even more unusual as the factory is generally operating normally and, therefore, it appears, there was no reason to limit work to the cane cutters in the first place. Strangely, though the cane cutters received reduced work assignments last week, the estate still managed to realise its weekly production target,” the statement said.
It further noted that the workers pointed out that the achievement of the target is linked to preference given to the processing of farmers’ canes, which is causing the estate canes to become older and can lend to a reduction in cane productivity.
“Usually, the Corporation would plan its harvesting programme in such a way to ensure that there is balanced harvesting of farmers and estate canes,” the statement added, while noting that the workers are dismayed by the actions of the estate, which has curtailed their earnings.
“The cane cutters shared that they had to contend with a longer-than-usual out-of-crop period which was extended by an additional week, and this time, they are eager to work, recognising that they have many of life’s obligations to meet. They shared that though the GuySuCo has pointed to workers’ earnings being enhanced by incentives, the denial of work to them precludes the opportunity from earning the very incentives the corporation has touted,” the statement said.
It further added that on April 12, the Union wrote GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Harold Davis, about the prevailing situation and urged that the workers be offered suitable and adequate work, opining that such a situation is in the interest of the workers and the Corporation by extension.
“Indeed, the circumstances of last week left a most bitter taste in the mouths of the workers who, while (they) have demonstrated their willingness to work, have had their best of intentions sapped for unknown reasons. The Union, at this time, looks forward to a normal situation being restored at Uitvlugt,” the statement said.
GuySuCo’s Corporate Communica-tions Manager, Audreyanna Thomas, was contacted but related that she could only share that the Estate’s management met the workers and are currently going through the grievances process with them. She added that all the areas that they have identified will be discussed and she would only be able to give a more comprehensive update during the week.
