GuySuCo not all that hard to fix

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,
I keep asking myself why do employees go on strikes? The truth is that workers go on strike for different reasons: to get improvements where they work, for more money, for shorter working days, to stop their wages going down, because they think their company has been unfair, or when they are being used for political reasons.
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) situation probably encapsulates all of these factors.
Currently, there are many views when it comes to what can be done to promote the local sugar industry and ensure a turnaround in sugar production.
The bottom line is really about effective labour, money and production. If this means mechanisation, then so be it. In Guyana, the question of labour shortage is most poignant.
The head of the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) stated that if workers don’t get paid accordingly, they won’t work, and that a lot of those same men that are leaving the sugar industry are going into the interior and doing more labour-intensive work because they are getting paid a fair wage.
This is so true, but that is because of the nature of man. I highlight the teaching situation – teachers leave and go to the mines too. According to Michael McQuaid, a world leader in positive psychology interventions in the workplace, the idea of being unappreciated, uninspired, lonely and miserable are all serious issues.
In a poll of 1000 American executives, McQuaid found a whopping 35 per cent of Americans are happy at their jobs. Sixty-five per cent say a better boss would make them happy. Only 35 per cent say a pay raise will do the same thing.
On the use of machines, this may be a quick fix but it can never suffice in the long run. Many people who get top-notch training accrue valuable experience with GuySuCo, then leave. I advocate for decent and affordable salaries and cohesion among workers, managers, and stakeholders.
Respect and appreciation must be the order of the day. Paying a decent salary may never be enough. This should be accompanied by good working conditions, great attitudes, meeting emotional needs, showing concern for employees’ wellbeing, expressing appreciation, giving occasional gifts, communicating clearly, and allowing room for professional growth. GuySuCo’s problems are not insurmountable.
Yours,
Ramesh Harripaul

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