What about bonus for sugar workers?

…GAWU Head says GuySuCo workers are also Govt employees

By Kristen Macklingam

In light of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s move to award public servants who earn less than Gy$500,000 per month a bonus of Gy$50,000 in December this year, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is calling for the same to be given to its sugar workers.

GAWU President Komal Chand on Tuesday told Guyana Times International that while this announcement which was made by the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, is a “much welcomed” one, his Union was imploring that the sugar workers throughout the country benefit from such an act.

“This announcement must also be looked at against the fact that the sugar workers having not been granted an increase in pay for the first time in decades. Secondly, what is also of grave concern is that they have not even discussed with the Union the claim that the Union submitted. The law and the agreement between the Union and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) require discussions and negotiations to take place,” Chand said.

He emphasised that regardless of the fact that the sugar workers’ wage/ salary increases negotiations for this year have not been held, it is expected that the bonus which the Government was giving to other public service employees be given to the hardworking sugar workers as well.

According to the GAWU President, this should be done because all sugar workers in Guyana are considered to be workers of the Administration.

“….GuySuCo is the only shareholder of the sugar industry. So by extension, GuySuCo’s employees are, in fact, Government employees,” he posited.

This newspaper was told that the Union was of the view that in light of the 2.5 days which are being offered to the sugar workers as their Annual Production Incentive (API) for 2015, this bonus will be gladly appreciated and much welcomed.

“The API sum will be paid till in March next year, so we feel that the Gy$50,000 should also be extended to the sugar workers. This is taking into account what has been given to them: is more than unreasonable, it is a token; it is a pittance. So we are calling on the Government of Guyana to also extend that bonus, that sum of Gy$50,000 to every sugar worker,” Chand stated.

If this payment of the bonus being given to public servants is not extended to the sugar workers, this would not bode well as it would appear to be “discriminatory”, Chand said. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)