Uitvlugt workers stage picketing exercise
Operations of Blairmont Estate today (February 19) came to a standstill after workers took protest action to express strongly their views about GuySuCo’s pay rise offer. The workers, like the Union, contend that any pay increase ought to be retroactive to January, last year. The workers pointed out that the discussions between the GAWU and the GuySuCo originated from the Union’s 2019 claims. It is apposite to note that agreements arising out of discussions on non-wage matters, which also comprised the Union’s claims, saw those improvements being implemented from 2019. It is, therefore, puzzling that the Corporation with respect to pay increase is seeking to deviate from practice and precedent. As the Union disclosed previously, the sugar company has acknowledged that our discussions regarded 2019 yet it is seeking to implement pay rises from the beginning of this year.
At both Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates, workers took part in picketing exercises outside of the respective estates to reiterate their call that their pay increases be no less than 5 per cent and that the pay improvements be retroactive to January 01, 2019. The workers placards carried the following slogans:-
- 2019 negotiations means pay from Jan 01, 2019!
- GuySuCo taking advantage of sugar workers!
- We demand retro pay from Jan 01, 2019 – rightfully!
- GuySuCo what happen to 2019 negotiations?
- All Govt workers get retro from Jan, 2019, why treat us differently?
- More discrimination against sugar workers!
- Workers seeking no less than 5%!
- Govt must stop seeking to exploit sugar workers situation!
The workers believe that the Corporation, and those who give it guidance, are seeking to exploit a situation knowing full well that they and their families require a rise-in-pay. They shared that while they seek a pay increase, their situation should not be taken advantage of. This they contend that this is not helpful, especially, at this time, when the Corporation is seeking maximum co-operation from its workforce.
The workers noted the recent GuySuCo statement which says the situation of the industry requires “…sacrifice by all its stakeholders”. The workers questioned whether they haven’t sacrificed enough already. Their sacrifice has seen them getting zero while their counterparts in the State, using the Government’s numbers, have seen their minimum wage improving by nearly 80 per cent since 2015. Their sacrifice has seen them not benefitting from long-standing conditions-of-work which have reduced their take home pay. Their sacrifice, too, has seen them continuing giving the industry their best while they are told there is nothing for them. Indeed they believe they have sacrificed enough, as they reminded that it was the straw the ultimately broke the camel’s overburdened back.
The workers have questioned why further discrimination is being meted out against them. They lamented that while they must seemingly swallow a pay rise from the beginning of this year; their colleagues in other sectors of the State received their pay rises from the beginning of last year. They added too that those workers received their retroactive payments tax free as well, while such treatment, so far it appears, has not been even considered for them. The workers contend that the Corporation’s position will not really bring about much benefit for them recognizing that majority of the weeks for the year, thus far, took place during the out-of-crop period where they hardly had any work.
The workers shared that they are willing to listen to reasonable proposals from the sugar corporation but at the same time they cannot allow the GuySuCo to effectively cheat them out of a year’s retroactive pay. They shared the sincere view that they are more than deserving and while they welcome the little reprieve, consideration should be given to their circumstances and situation.
