The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) is mulling countrywide strike action if proposed increases in sugar workers’ wages and salaries are not retroactive to January 2019.
The union said yesterday that during talks, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) insisted that it would have to first consult with government before a decision is made.
However, GuySuCo yesterday ruled out government’s involvement in its decisions on the issue as it pointed out that any increase will be based on projections for this year. The corporation stressed that strike action during negotiations is not acceptable and expressed disappointment at actions taken by workers recently at the Blairmont Estate.
“The government is not involved in the negotiations between GuySuCo and the unions. The increases will be funded from operating efficiencies and projections for sales and production 2020,” Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Dr Harold Davis, told Stabroek News when contacted.
“Strikes are not acceptable during the course of negotiations. The recent actions by the union at Blairmont estate was most disappointing,” he added.
The two sides are expected to meet again late next week to continue discussions.
“We are discussing if we will strike…it is workers’ right to and the way GuySuCo spoke down… about the actions [taken] is disrespectful,” a source close to the negotiations told Stabroek News following yesterday’s talks.
GAWU said that as discussions continued yesterday, some amendments proposed at last week’s talks were agreed to but the key issue of having wages be retroactive to January of 2019 was not.
“The corporation informed the union, after consideration, it has amended its offer regarding the time-rated employees. The sugar company put on the table a $20 increase at the bands One to Five levels. Previously, the corporation had proposed to increase the Band One by $20 and the bands Two to Five by $18. Apart from that it has agreed to increase the foremen pay by $4,100. Initially, the corporation had offered to increase the foremen salaries by $4,000 per month. The union, after deliberations by its delegation, found favour with the sugar company’s newest proposal,” a statement from GAWU said.
“Turning to the period of retroactivity, the union reiterated that the discussions regarded 2019 and thus any improvement ought to be retroactive to the beginning of that year. The corporation, in response, informed the union that it required the support of the “stakeholder” to address this issue. The GAWU when asked about the “stakeholder” was advised that this is meant to be Government of Guyana. The company did say that it has previously sought the administration’s support on the issue, though it did not communicate what was the government’s position. The union reiterated that an agreement hinged on an acceptable period of retroactivity. Before the meeting ended, the corporation, it appeared, sought to dismiss our concerns regarding the period of retroactivity,” it added.
The union said that the apparent disregard for its concerns “upset very much the union’s delegation” as they pointed out to the corporation that the implementation date of the pay rise is a fundamental and critical issue. They urged the sugar company and its officials to not seek to downplay or minimise it.
“The meeting, at times, became very contentious as the corporation also used the engagement to express its views on the union’s recent statement regarding its 2020 production. The union found the GuySuCo’s demeanor and language to be, at times, unbecoming and clearly out-of-place for the meeting,” the release said.
It noted that while GuySuCo may blame them for their stance, the union used information they had at hand to complete their analysis and reach their conclusions and this fact was told to the corporation.
“At no time, did the company, in its response, demonstrate that we utilised incorrect data. In seeking to express criticism, the corporation went as far as accusing the union of failing to acknowledge its strategic plan. The GAWU had to tell GuySuCo that though we received a presentation on the contours of the plan, we have yet to see the living document. We reminded GuySuCo that we asked for the plan and subsequently put our request in writing but, so far, we remain unaware about what specifically is said in the document,” GAWU said.
According to GAWU, GuySuCo’s negotiators criticised the recent protest action by workers of the Blairmont Estate but the union will not be moved as it believes that it only through forms of protest that their concerns receive the attention needed.
Workers had on Wednesday stopped working and picketed to express their dissatisfaction with GuySuCo’s pay rise offer.
“The union was most upset by this and had to tell the company that we are convinced that it is the consistent and persistent struggles of the workers that led to the parties now discussing pay increase. The corporation, during the meeting, admitted that as recent as two (2) weeks ago the pay rise was not a reality. Incidentally, it was just two (2) weeks ago that the workers again gathered in front of the president’s office to call on the administration to end the naked discrimination and wage freeze,” GAWU said.
“We reminded the corporation that the industry has several proud chapters of workers’ struggles which brought about betterment and improvement. We felt that the criticism was misplaced and clearly unacceptable. Our union cannot countenance the corporation seeking to denigrate any worker for engaging in their inalienable constitutional right to strike,” it added.
GAWU said that it will again consider the proposal made this week as it contemplates the next step but has not ruled out striking next week if their demands are not met.
“The workers and the GAWU, believe, that the industry is seeking to take advantage of the workers situation who, despite their best efforts, continue to be treated discriminatorily,” the union said.
