Today (November 01), the overwhelming majority of the workers of Blairmont Estate downed tools and took protest action as they called on the management of the GuySuCo and the Government of Guyana to ensure that they receive a rise in pay. As the GAWU, on many occasions has pointed out, sugar workers wages have remained frozen essentially at 2014 levels. The workers are most burdened by the heavy and steep increases in the cost-of-living which, as we shared before, have been occasioned by a number of factors.
The workers, as they demonstrated their dismay and disappointment over the situation they face, staged a picketing exercise outside of the Blairmont Estate Administrative Office. The activity saw workers from many sections of the estate taking part as they called in a united voice for social justice, fair treatment and equity to be shown to them. The workers, pointed out, that they are the only ones that are under the State’s umbrella whose pay levels have remained stagnated. They recognized that the Government has boasted, in recent times, about the level of increases it approved to other workers of the State. The workers shared, they wondered what about them? Why are they being treated differently? And if they are somehow less deserving of a pay rise. Certainly, they questioned why a different yardstick is being applied to them. They shared that if it is that Government is so much aware that workers are deserving of a pay rise then why are they being told they should not benefit from any improvement.
The workers said that the denial of pay increases and suspension and ignoring of other long-standing benefits have hurt them and their families greatly. They said that they continue to work hard and yet for their best efforts there is really no reward. They shared that essentially their living standards have shrunk over the last few years as they have been unable to fully cope with the new realities and circumstances of life.
Workers also shared that they were upset to have learnt that GuySuCo earlier this week decided to abandon a planned engagement after delegations from the GAWU and the NAACIE attached to their clothing slogans calling for a pay rise. They felt that the Corporation’s actions were uncalled for and the Unions were merely expressing the views of the workers in a peaceful and sincere manner. They felt that the actions of the state-owned sugar company was high-handed and was intended to shutdown the legitimate views of the thousands of the industry’s workers who remain hard pressed at this time. The workers are equally upset with the response of President David Granger to their petition which he has referred to GuySuCo without any rhyme or reason.
Today’s activity followed a vigil activity last evening (October 31) held outside of the estate’s office. The activity organized under the aegis of the Union’s Branch saw a number of workers taking part as they again called for a pay rise which has been withheld for far too long. The workers shared that the prolonged period of no pay rise has been difficult, disappointing, disheartening and dismaying. They said that some of them have become disillusioned and this has affected their general preferences and living standards.
The workers, together with the Union, will continue, in different forms, to reiterate and heighten to calls for an end to the discriminatory treatment meted out to them as they seek the authorities do what is right, and approve for them a pay rise.
