Albion Estate sugar workers yesterday joined the protest for a wage increase noting that they have not received any since 2014.
The workers, who went on strike yesterday and protested in front of the Albion Estate, are also contending, that the cost of living has increased and as such they are in need of an increase to afford the cost of living.
McKenzie, a cane harvester for 28 years at the estate, said, “We are out here because of the wage increase, since 2014 we don’t have no increase, it’s …time now that the government should stick to this and make sure we get something.”
The father of six stressed, “We need a wage increase… we need a wage increase because this is not easy.”
He further stated, “Cost of living gone sky high and we get children to go school, bills to pay and we barely working three and four days for this whole crop, and that can’t maintain we family.”
McKenzie said, that the issue was raised with management repeatedly but it is his opinion that efforts are not being made to properly handle the situation in the interest of the workers.
Avinash Lackhan, a cane harvester at the Albion Estate, said that he will continue to support the strike since it is time that “abie stand up for abie right.”
He said decisions per-taining to estate business are almost always made without consultations with the workers and they are usually left to deal with the after effects of those decisions, as such, it is time for “abie to get a say too, we need we wage increase.”
Harvey Tombran, Regional Representative for GAWU, explained that the strike action is a way for the workers to express themselves after not benefitting from a wage increase since 2014, although other sectors have benefited from increases and bonuses. “They are out here this morning to send a message to GuySuCo that they need to come on board and engage the union meaningfully so that there can be something on the table for them,” he said.
Tombran pointed out that the Christmas holidays are quickly approaching and it is unfortunate that the workers have to strike for an increase. “They are frustrated here now, it has long been overdue and the workers are going to continue the strike action “if GuySuCo continues to ‘drag their foot’ on the negotiation process.”
Furthermore, Tombran noted, that there is a “neglect in the field as well” and whenever highlighted by workers, management often does not pay heed but rather continues to operate “as they feel and many times it fails”.
He encouraged management to be more proactive and “put their hands on things before it gets worse.”
On Friday last, Blairmont Estate workers protested for a wage increase, while last Thursday evening, they also held a vigil and protested outside of the Blairmont Estate. Other functioning estates also hosted vigils last Friday evening calling for a wage increase.
