Several workers of the Skeldon sugar estate, supported by the union GAWU, yesterday picketed outside of the estate calling on the GuySuCo to end what they claimed to be its discriminatory benefits practices.
A release from the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers union (GAWU) said that the workers are protesting a decision by the sugar company to pay gratuity to employees at the managerial, supervisory, and clerical levels while denying similar payments to workers employed in the field, factory, and allied areas.
The release said that the workers are at a loss over the Corporation’s decision. They charged that they, like the other groups benefitting, were offered fixed-term contracts and, therefore, see no reason for them not to benefit from the payments awarded to the other workers.
GAWU said that it addressed the matter with the GuySuCo Head Office. Despite several arguments proffered, the union said that the sugar company by letter of September 23, 2021, said it could not agree to offer similar benefits to the workers. GAWU said that no reason or explanation was provided by the Corporation for its decision. This triggered yesterday’s protest.
GAWU said that it will seek the involvement of the Ministry of Labour through conciliation.
