GAWU calls off strike; Chand says talks of political motivation “laughable”

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[File Photo]

By Jomo Paul

President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand
President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The nationwide Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) strike will meet its end today October 27, after running for three days, says Komal Chand.

Chand, the President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), told iNews in a telephone interview that workers are expected to resume work from Wednesday, October 28.

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder had stated that the strike actions were merely political in nature.

“One of the problems with the sugar industry is that it has been used as a political football, and you have seen the result of that is the reduction in productivity over the years and the putting of square pegs in round holes by the former Government,” said Holder.

But Chand dismissed this claim as completely laughable.

“This is really laughable. For us to have the Corporation engage us in negotiations before the report [COI Report] isn’t political. What is political about that?” he questioned.

[File Photo]
[File Photo]
He said that GAWU made representation to the sugar company concerning wage increases but was informed in writing that the company is going to meet with the union after the Public Service Commission of Inquiry had been completed and a report was produced.

“What cannot be accepted – you have a Public Service COI going on right now, that has nothing to do with sugar workers not getting increases this year…The Minister is new but he is also completely alien to industrial relations…he should have asked management and Directors of the Board,” Chand emphasized.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Well said, I predict that the GAWU will implode as a PPP union. One blogger has suggested that the strike was called because the government is incompetent. I wonder about the intelligence of some who pontificate on a daily basis.

  3. So after a few days they bottled it….typical estate mentalities ….should close down industry and sell it….funny how they don’t run to Freedom House when their masters were in charge and hold them to ransom…. Good riddance to bad rubbish

  5. the incompetency of this new regime is manifesting itself by the hour now; to the extent I really do empathise with them….. after all they can’t be removed before 2020…. and we have to painstakingly survive with them on our backs. It doesn’t seem that friendly guidance is doing us any good… or rather guidance and instructions from friendly territories are not doing any better… but then again how could alien advice be right for Guyana when it hasn’t worked anywhere else….

  6. Chand, bow out.You had a good run and did allot for sugar workers.However you are living in a long gone era, where “Sugar was king”.We need younger, better educated and less indocrinated union leders, that can work with governments, to try and save the once mighty sugar industry, from extinction.Like global warming the time is now for united action, labour and Guysuco, to save the industry, as it belongs to all Guyanese and not political parties.

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