Various categories of workers from the Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates yesterday picketed the management of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), accusing it of unfair and unequal treatment under recently implemented payment policies.
However, a corporation source familiar with the issue told this publication that the matter is being blown out of proportion. It was explained that the increases were only given to selected category of workers on a merit basis.
A release from the workers’ union, the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), yesterday said workers from both estates protested outside their respective offices as field foreman and women at the Blairmont Estate were peeved over a decision by the sugar company to selectively award pay rises.
Some workers lamented that some of their recently confirmed colleagues were given pay rises while same was not extended to them.
GAWU said “the new foremen/forewomen are enjoying rates-of-pay in excess of their colleagues who have functioned in their posts for longer periods. The company had informed that the selected workers sat an examination and based on their scores were awarded additional pay increments.”
However, long-serving foremen and forewomen are arguing that they also sought an opportunity to sit the examination to determine whether they could benefit from further increments like their colleagues but it was not afforded to them.
At a meeting on September 20, GAWU met with GuySuCo and presented the suggestion to management. However, the union was told that the company was not inclined to accept the suggestion.
“The response upset the workers who felt that the sugar company was not treating them fairly and inequitably. Though the Corporation said it would provide a response, the workers are convinced that given the expressions and demeanour of the company at the meeting their concerns would be treated insincerely,” the union said.
However, the company source explained that GuySuCo ran a cadet course for 12 workers who were promoted after
completing the course. At the end of the course workers were asked to write a test and three persons attained scores in the 80s and were awarded a 5% increase on merit.
It was a process, the source said, while noting that it is unfair for the long-serving workers to object to this.
Meanwhile at Uitvlugt Estate, workers from several departments picketed to register their dissatisfaction over unequal treatment.
The release from GAWU yesterday said that, workers from Uitvlugt Estate had similar concerns over unequal pay.
The workers shared that they brought this concern to the attention of the estate management, which undertook to conducting some checks and providing a response by yesterday. When the workers arrived for meeting, the management informed it could not offer a response.
GAWU said workers are angry that management cannot provide them with an answer on whether they will qualify for an increase.
This stance, GAWU added, angered the workers as they felt that the management demonstrated that it was unconcerned about the issues raised.
The source told Stabroek News that at Uitvlugt it is the mechanical tillage operators who are demanding a wage increase. The mechanical operators are paid based on the amount of acres tilled per day.
The corporation offered merit based increases to a group of 12 carpenters in a bid to retain them within the estate. With the construction boom and a demand for skilled carpenters, management felt the incentive was necessary to keep the workers in its employ, the source explained.
Nonetheless, GAWU said while Blairmont and Uitvlugt workers are not averse to their colleagues receiving pay increases and the corporation found it worthy to recognize the hard work and dedicated efforts of its workers, they are hopeful the Corporation implements policies for all workers to be treated fairly.
