The Union continued during this year to fight for outstanding severance payment for the Wales cane cutters. That estate was closed for nearly three (3) years now. Though the Court ordered GuySuCo, in December, 2018, to pay the workers their severance entitlements, the Corporation, strangely, did not fully comply with the Court’s Order. Then Justice Sandil Kissoon had ordered the sugar company last year to pay the 107 cane cutters, who would have worked at Uitvlugt for varying periods, their severance pay as well as one month’s pay in lieu of notice.
The Corporation proceeded to pay the workers concerned their severance entitlements but withheld the notice pay. The Union drew the act of non-compliance to the Corporation’s attention yet the state-owned enterprise refused to honour the Court’s order.
As a result of the GuySuCo’s apparent intransigence, the Union was forced to approach the Court again, to have the order enforced. The matter came up before Chief Justice (a.g), Roxanne George-Wiltshire who on considering the arguments made approved a garnishment order. Through the order secured, GuySuCo’s bankers – Demerara Bank – have been obligated to turnover to the Union some $7.5M plus interest to offset the monies owed to the workers.
For the GAWU it was disturbing that it was forced to go to such lengths to ensure that the rights of the workers are respected. Of course, we contend, that the matter should have never reached the level of the Judiciary in the first place. The mere fact that it reached such a level is an indicator of the injustice that has been perpetuated against our workers and the obstacles workers and their organisations must overcome before their rights are respected and justice is done. The struggle, however, is not over yet as the Corporation has now appealed the Chief Justice’s decision. That appeal is expected to be heard early next year. Our Union, will of course, defend the workers rights.
