For the first time since 2014, sugar workers have finally received a rise-in-pay. Earlier this year, the Union and the Corporation reached an interim agreement which saw sugar workers benefitting from a five (5) per cent pay increase from January 01, 2020. The agreement reached was under the clear position that the negotiations for 2019 still remain outstanding. While the GuySuCo implemented the new rates-of-pay with effect from May 01, 2020, the workers a few weeks ago received their retroactive payments for the period January to April, 2020. The period of pay freeze was most distressing for the workers as they and their families had to contend with massive rise in the cost-of-living while their real and nominal wages plummeted.
During the period, several long standing benefits were also suspended by the sugar corporation undoubtedly with the support of the former powers-that-be. The effect in totality was utterly disturbing and represented a concerted attack on the workers conditions-of-work. As reprehensible as it was, the workers saw their colleagues in other sections of the State benefitting from pay increases and other improvements in conditions-of-work while they regressed. Even former President Forbes Burnham who had many ill things ascribed to him never treated sugar workers as derisively as his successors did.
At this time, GAWU and GuySuCo remained locked in discussions regarding the outstanding 2019 negotiations and other matters. Our Union has indicated to GuySuCo our desire to find an amicable settlement to the outstanding matters. The Corporation, for its part, has listened attentively and has committed to fully studying the matter and will respond to the Union. We are hopeful that the matter can soon be resolved favourably and that sugar workers can finally begin to receive some of the justice they deserve.
