This morning (August 15, 2018), some workers who were retained at Wales Estate staged a picketing exercise outside of the estate demanding that their right to redundancy pay be respected. The workers were retained by GuySuCo and were engaged mainly in the seed paddy experiment which the Corporation pursued on the former cane fields. On (Monday) August 13, 2018, without any warning, the workers were instructed to report to Uitvlugt Estate, some 22 miles away, for work. Subsequently the affected workers approached the Union and upon representing the issue the Corporation’s Head Office informed that the seed paddy operations were taken over by NICIL-SPU. The Union was further informed that two (2) workers would be retained to maintain the Wales Estate compound and the remainder would be sent to Uitvlugt Estate.
The GAWU, taking into account GuySuCo’s explanation, pointed out to the Corporation that the workers’ jobs have become redundant and, therefore, payment of severance has arisen. Notwithstanding the coherent position, the Corporation is adamant that the excess workers must take up work at Uitvlugt, we believe, fully well aware that such action is in complete contravention of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. The GAWU sees the GuySuCo’s high-handed action as a wretched attempt to frustrate the workers to leave their jobs after serving the state-owned enterprise for years and thus to deny them their rightful entitlements.
The actions by the Corporation, in this case, are not dissimilar from the actions the company took with respect to Wales’ cane cutters and which forced the Union to pursue the matter at the judicial level. That matter, we should add, is currently being heard and despite the unambiguity of the law, the Corporation continues to steadfastly hold on to its obstinate position. The GAWU is dismayed that it must, once again, call on the GuySuCo to respect workers’ rights and the protections afforded to them by the laws, agreements, conventions and practices.
The question uppermost in those affected and concerned workers minds is when this new-found anti-workers stand by the authorities will come to an end?
