Guysuco suffers countrywide strike

over annual bonus

Sugar workers downed tools yesterday on all eight estates as talks broke down over the annual production bonus.
There were differing statements from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) over the ongoing talks.

Sugar workers across the country downed tools yesterday as talks over the annual bonus between the main union and GuySuCo broke down Tuesday.

According to the corporation, the union which is the largest bargaining body for the industry submitted a claim on November 18 for an annual production bonus of 6.80 day’s pay for a production of 201,000 tonnes sugar, or alternatively 29,500 tonnes per day pay.
On Tuesday, during a prolonged deliberation between GuySuCo and the union, the Corporation suggested that GAWU should review its original demand to facilitate further dialogue on the matter.
GuySuCo indicated that Seepaul Narine, General Secretary of the union, who headed the delegation, indicated that the bargaining body “flexible” on its demand and at the next meeting would communicate its “flexible position”.
“On this note the Corporation suggested that both parties meet no later than the current week. It was then mutually agreed, with the concurrence of the delegation that both parties shall meet on Friday, December 13 at GAWU office.”
GAWU officials yesterday said that its members only decided to take actions after learning that GuySuCo had said during at Tuesday’s meeting that it could not afford the bonus, as the industry is set to record another low production.
GuySuCo said in its statement that it was therefore not only most disappointing for the union to call a strike when there was an agreement to meet and further negotiate its demand, but the strike actions violated the core of the extant collective labour agreement.
“The strike will only exacerbate the Corporation’s ability to meet its financial obligation. Despite low production strikes and low turnouts, the Corporation in good faith continues to enhance wages.”
According to GuySuCo, over a month ago, it reached an agreement with the unions for an across the board increase of four per cent, effective from January 1, 2013. The retroactive payments totalling $735M will be paid on December 20, 2013.
As of yesterday morning, GuySuCo claimed that there are approximately 960 loaded punts with 5,300 tonnes canes waiting to be processed, which could yield 375 tonnes sugar. “In addition, there are 1,275 tonnes of canes burnt in the fields waiting to be harvested, and could yield another 884 tonnes sugar.
The Corporation was disappointed with this strike action and called upon all parties to act more responsibly to ensure a full resumption by tomorrow.
The strike actions could spell more trouble for an industry which is already reeling from troubles with its factories, workers, weather and cash.
Last year, GuySuCo recorded its lowest production in 20 years —- 218,000 tonnes. This year, more bad news has come with industry and union officials confirming that the country may not even meet the 200,000-tonne mark.
The accusations have been flying back and forth with Government admitting recently that it has moved to hire overseas help for the struggling Enmore factory; which has been experiencing technical issues.
The US$200M Skeldon project in Berbice has failed to live up to expectations more than five years after becoming operational, facing one problem after another.
Workers have been leaving in droves and with 190,000 tonnes committed market to Europe, GuySuCo has been struggling and a major embarrassment for Government.
With grinding for the year expected to close on December 21, the race is against time.
Strikes at the end of the year have become a norm for the industry in recent times but there have been few answers to the many challenges.