Berbice: Even as Blairmont Estate cane harvesters await their promised Annual Production Incentive (API) on Friday, the Commission of Inquiry that was launched following strike actions at the West Coast Berbice Estate is still ongoing, Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul said on Wednesday.
The Guyana Sugar Corporation Incorporated (GuySuCo) has been rocked by numerous strikes that affected the Blairmont, Providence, Enmore and La Bonne Intention sugar estates. Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy stated that the various strikes that have occurred since the new year is not good for business, however, " the Commission of Inquiry will talk to everybody, the committee is to ensure that workers will receive answers”. “Workers need to know that the team is working to investigate and resolve issues, posited Dr. Ramsammy.
Dr. Gopaul stated that the commission, which was formed late in February, was set up to ensure that workers felt like their grievances were being addressed.
Blairmont workers had complained that there was not enough work for all of them and that GuySuCo was essentially ripping them off by wanting to pay them far less for their work than what was contractually obligated. Estate workers took action in February and called for the resignation of estate Manager, Corlette Victorine and field Manager, Anil Seepersaud.
The Blairmont strike was soon followed by similar action by workers at the Enmore, Providence and LBI estates, where workers were contesting the lack of overtime pay and the lack of proper tools, among other issues. Dr. Gopaul noted that “strikes have been a part of sugar industry since inception”.
When asked if this was not an issue to be addressed, Dr. Gopaul stated that, “this has been blown out of proportion by political motivators”, and the result is that workers are being manipulated by “political opportunists” who have no real intention of representing workers.
He said that management needs to be flexible and realise that workers want immediate resolution to their issues. Dr. Gopaul stated that, “the facts that GAWU and GuySuCo came to the Ministry is an indication that the system is working”.
GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer Paul Bhim noted that he was pleased with the way in which the GAWU representatives have been able to compromise and help find resolutions. However, he noted “a lot of strikes are over pricing”, and if GuySuCo is able to “produce the amount of sugar we need, these issues would be less likely”.
Bhim said workers’ rights are incredibly important, which is why the Blairmont estate has seen a commission of inquiry to help resolve issues. Bhim said the Enmore and LBI estates have not requested such a commission, but their most recent reason for striking was over cane pricing, and this has since been resolved.
Meanwhile, workers would beg to differ. Many cane harvesters feel as though they go back to work time and time again after little or no resolution. There is a perception among workers that they are always hoping for change; however they are adamant that if pay continues to be a contentious issue, the strikes will continue.
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