Latest update April 17th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 11, 2009 News
GuySuCo/GAWU wages talks…
…tribunal panel named
The arbitration meeting between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) is slated to commence on November 14th, 2009 (Saturday), with Dr. Gobind Ganga being the chairman of the Tribunal Panel.
Kaieteur News understands that Yog Mahadeo (Chief Financial Officer of GT&T) is the union’s representative on the panel, while former Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Sonya Roopnauth, will be representing GuySuCo.
Secretary to the tribunal panel is Deputy Chief Labour Officer, Clive Nurse.
President of GAWU, Komal Chand told Kaieteur News yesterday that on Monday, the panel had a preliminary meeting, while today both parties will be presenting memos to the tribunal panel, outlining their grievances.
The wages talks between GAWU and GuySuCo was declared deadlocked late last month as government stepped in and imposed compulsory arbitration.
In a statement, Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir said that he was forced to order the move “after conciliation proceedings between the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union was declared deadlocked on October 29, 2009 by the Chief Labour Officer and has decided to impose compulsory arbitration by virtue of the powers conferred upon him by Section 4 (1) (c) of the Labour Act, Cap. 98:01”.
Earlier last month, several workers from the Rose Hall factory reportedly walked off their jobs forcing operations to a standstill there.
At that time also, Government’s spokesman, Dr Roger Luncheon had blasted GAWU for its “partisan” approach of refusing to be a part of the GuySuCo board.
However, GAWU had responded by saying that the union was never approached to be part of the board.
“Sugar is more than a matter of sugar workers. Sugar is about the local industry, conditions in the rural communities – the economy of Guyana. The union runs the risk of appearing utterly partisan and single-minded in responding to a situation that exists on the ground,” Luncheon had noted.
GAWU, although not announcing its demands, had indicated that it may be asking for a 15% wage hike for workers. But GuySuCo stuck to a 3% offer saying that it cannot afford more in light of poor production and other factors.
GuySuCo says that losses for this year are projected at $2.5B with almost $5B owed to banks. Additionally, Chief Executive Officer Errol Hanoman had noted that the company is facing a grim financial situation with almost $1.8B owed to creditors at the end of September.
In 2008 GuySuCo which is one of Guyana’s biggest foreign exchange earners declared losses of $4B, owing banks $3B.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 17, 2024
2024 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships Round 7…GHE vs. CCC Kaieteur Sports – After a highly-successful round 6, Guyana Harpy Eagles will look to take full advantage of the out-of-sorts...Kaieteur News – Every school teacher should take a close look at the students in his or her classroom. The probability... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]