Enmore Sugar Factory and Packaging Plant Workers on Strike

The Alliance for Change (AFC), represented by Gerhard Ramsaroop and Kojo McPherson, and accompanied by political activist, Freddie Kissoon, on Friday, 9 March 2012, met with the Enmore sugar factory and packaging plant workers who were on strike, outside the Enmore Packaging Plant. Their issue was the non-payment of overtime to those who worked last Saturday and Sunday.

They explained to the AFC that this occurred once before during the last crop of last year, and after the union (GAWU) intervened, the issue was resolved for the balance of the crop. However, the promise to pay the workers the overtime lost was never fulfilled. This is why when the issue repeated itself this morning (9 March 2012), the workers immediately went on strike.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in response to the strike, has agreed to pay the workers the overtime. However, GuySuCo is maintaining that the new arrangement whereby workers must complete 40 hours of work before they are entitled to any overtime on Saturdays and Sundays, will remain in place. The workers are not in agreement with this, and are further aggrieved by what they say is management’s deliberate practice of denying them days during the week so that they will not make their 40 hours, and therefore, have to work over the weekend for normal pay.

The workers again pointed to management for the troubles the industry finds itself in today. They said the packaging plant, built at a cost of some US$12.5M, still does not function properly. For example, sugar is supposed to be conveyed directly to the packaging plant from the factory, but when it meets the screw worm at the plant, it crushes the sugar to a powder, and so the sugar has to be transported via forklifts, leading to additional costs. They are also pointing fingers at the plant’s manager, who they say is President Ramotar’s nephew and earns some $750,000 per month.

The AFC notes this plant was controversial from the inception, with experts pointing to larger plants being built for less in other parts of the world. In addition, shortly after it was commissioned in May 2011, there was an explosion which resulted in the death of Jainarine Singh, whose widow was then given the royal run-around by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Generally, NIS continues to be a sore point for the workers. Munishwar Singh, one of the striking workers, says he has been working for GuySuCo since 1969, but has 8 years of NIS contributions missing and 11 years incorrectly recorded.

Yesterday (8 March 2012), it was the issues the workers have with NIS that sparked another strike. One of the more severely affected is Mohamed Ali whose leg was severely fractured since last June (2011) and for which he is still wearing an external fixator. His NIS payments stopped abruptly after six months, which has left him and his family in a dire situation. Another worker, Seetaram Bramnarain, with a still visibly swollen ankle from an injury he suffered last December (2011), was only paid the equivalent of 10 days’ work, some $24,000, and then certified fit to work by NIS. As a consequence, his family, including a daughter still in school, is also suffering.

The workers expressed a strong desire for a new union and were vociferously demanding the AFC to take up the mantle. In response however, the AFC once again, made it clear that it was not there to replace GAWU, but to highlight their issues with the aim of timely resolutions. The AFC told the workers that it recognises the industry as vital not just as a major employer and foreign exchange earner, but also for the enormous contribution it can make to the energy sector through bagasse and ethanol, and therefore, it must not be allowed to collapse.

Gerhard Ramsaroop, in his address to the workers, emphasised that the industry is in deep trouble and therefore, cost cutting measures are inevitable. However, rather than have a bottom up approach, which will have severe social implications, the cuts most start at the top. He said this even more befitting given that the PPP Government owes its political power to the sugar workers. He pointed to the extravagant Bharrat Jagdeo pension package (estimated at $3M per month), and the continued practice at the Office President of appointing highly paid advisors, like Gail Texeira and Odinga Lumumba, who respectively earn some $900,000 and $700,000 per month.

Gerhard went on to explain that beyond his political work, he had a personal connection to Enmore through his aja (paternal grandfather) who was born there, and his father, Boyo Ramsaroop. He said his father, who supported the PPP for 60 years, died a hurt and broken man because the PPP ended up betraying all he believed in, including the rights of the working class. Gerhard also mentioned his father’s abhorrence for corruption, which led to the workers showing the AFC team the shoddy roadwork in the area, and a bridge, which was reportedly built at a cost of $4M and after three months developed a deep and gaping hole.

In closing, Gerhard urged the workers to remain strong and united and that they must continue to pressure GAWU to represent them adequately. He warned that the PPP will try to discourage them and divide them along racial lines. He said it has been reported that the PPP has been acknowledging to its supporters that they have not done as they should have. However, they are then employing fear tactics, saying if they continue to lose support that the PNC will get back in power, and that the AFC is helping them to get there. He urged the workers not to fall for this and to continue to fight for their rights, for their own sakes and that of their families.

End.

Letter detailing the missing and incorrect NIS records of Munishwar Singh who worked for GuySuCo since 1969.

Letter from NIS to Munishwar Singh, who worked with GuySuCo since 1969, but has 8 years of contributions missing and 11 years incorrectly recorded, with the excuse that all his contributions may not be in the computer system.

Hole in three month old bridge, reportedly built at a cost G$4M (US$20,000)

Hole in three month old bridge, reportedly built at a cost G$4M (US$20,000)

Hole in three month old bridge, reportedly built at a cost G$4M (US$20,000)

Sugar worker proudly displaying Freddie Kissoon's column covering some of their issues.

Sugar workers calling for removal of the packaging plant manager, who they say is President Ramotar's nephew and earns G$750,000 per month.

Sugar worker displaying the story in Stabroek News that covered some of their issues.

Sugar workers calling for removal of the packaging plant manager, who they say is President Ramotar's nephew and earns G$750,000 per month.

Freddie Kissoon marching with the striking sugar workers.

Gerhard Ramsaroop and Freddie Kissoon with the striking sugar workers.

Gerhard Ramsaroop and Freddie Kissoon with the striking sugar workers.