Sugar workers from Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates today (February 04) again gathered outside of President David Granger’s office to register their utter disgust and dismay regarding what they rightly perceive as discrimination to them meted out by the State.
The sugar workers, as has been repeated so often, remain the only group of workers under the aegis of the State to have not gotten any improvement in pay since the Coalition Government took office in May, 2015. Though there are several credible and rational bases for the Granger Government to assist the workers, the APNU+AFC has turned their backs and closed their eyes and ears to the cries and calls of the nation’s sugar workers.
The workers cannot comprehend why they are being treated the way they are by the Coalition. They shared that they feel as outcasts seemingly undeserving of the protection of the State which is their ultimate employer. With no pay improvements, coupled with disregarding of long-standing benefits have caused the workers’ lot to steadily deteriorate. Also, there is the additional problem of reduced cropping weeks which have further affected their earnings. This painful reality could not have come at a worse time as today when the cost-of-living rose astronomically. The Bureau of Statistics, advises, that the cost of food rose by nearly 18 per cent between December, 2015 and October, 2019. The most recently available Statistical Bulletin, we saw, indicated that between March, 2016 and September, 2018 the following rise of prices have been recorded:-
- White rice has gone by up 42 per cent
- Sugar has gone up by 27 per cent
- Butter has gone up by 15 per cent
- Tea bags have gone up 11 per cent
- Salt has gone up by 83 per cent
- Flour has gone up b 29 per cent
- Eggs have gone up by 17 per cent
- Powdered milk has gone up by 13 per cent
- Cooking gas has gone up by 24 per cent
- Butter fish has gone up by 35 per cent
Added to that situation, was a heavy hike in water rates with fix charge customers tariffs increasing from $742 per month to $1,950. That is a 163 per cent jump. During the intervening period too, the cost of public transportation has risen by as much as 25 per cent in some cases. These have all added up and have pushed sugar workers and their families into a woeful economic plight in recent years.
What is even worse is that while there is general acknowledgement for the yeoman efforts of the sugar workers they continue to be disregarded. Their efforts, in the fields, factories and offices have seen improvement in cane yields for instance. However and sadly, those efforts have not translated into the expected success as the industry’s factories are hamstrung and monies available for rehabilitation are held back by the procrastination of the Administration. The GAWU being aware of what is occurring at this time must admit that it has little hope for improved performance in the upcoming crop.
The Union and the workers have heard President Granger saying on the campaign trail his Government wants the sugar industry to be profitable. That too is a desire of the workers. But such goals cannot be realized without a motivated and committed workforce. This is sadly lacking right now and though it can be meaningfully addressed by the Coalition, nothing, so far, has been done. The workers know too that they will get their chance to have their voices heard and their plight addressed. The hands of time are slowly reaching the appointed time.
