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FM
Former Member


Enmore Sugar Factory and Packaging Plant Workers on Strike


The Alliance for Change (AFC), represented by Gerhard Ramsaroop and Kojo McPherson, and accompanied by political activist, Freddie Kissoon, on Friday, 9 March 2012, met with the Enmore sugar factory and packaging plant workers who were on strike, outside the Enmore Packaging Plant. Their issue was the non-payment of overtime to those who worked last Saturday and Sunday.

 

They explained to the AFC that this occurred once before during the last crop of last year, and after the union (GAWU) intervened, the issue was resolved for the balance of the crop. However, the promise to pay the workers the overtime lost was never fulfilled. This is why when the issue repeated itself this morning (9 March 2012), the workers immediately went on strike.

 

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in response to the strike, has agreed to pay the workers the overtime. However, GuySuCo is maintaining that the new arrangement whereby workers must complete 40 hours of work before they are entitled to any overtime on Saturdays and Sundays, will remain in place. The workers are not in agreement with this, and are further aggrieved by what they say is management’s deliberate practice of denying them days during the week so that they will not make their 40 hours, and therefore, have to work over the weekend for normal pay.

 

The workers again pointed to management for the troubles the industry finds itself in today. They said the packaging plant, built at a cost of some US$12.5M, still does not function properly. For example, sugar is supposed to be conveyed directly to the packaging plant from the factory, but when it meets the screw worm at the plant, it crushes the sugar to a powder, and so the sugar has to be transported via forklifts, leading to additional costs. They are also pointing fingers at the plant’s manager, who they say is President Ramotar’s nephew and earns some $750,000 per month.

 

The AFC notes this plant was controversial from the inception, with experts pointing to larger plants being built for less in other parts of the world. In addition, shortly after it was commissioned in May 2011, there was an explosion which resulted in the death of Jainarine Singh, whose widow was then given the royal run-around by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Generally, NIS continues to be a sore point for the workers. Munishwar Singh, one of the striking workers, says he has been working for GuySuCo since 1969, but has 8 years of NIS contributions missing and 11 years incorrectly recorded.

 

Yesterday (8 March 2012), it was the issues the workers have with NIS that sparked another strike. One of the more severely affected is Mohamed Ali whose leg was severely fractured since last June (2011) and for which he is still wearing an external fixator. His NIS payments stopped abruptly after six months, which has left him and his family in a dire situation. Another worker, Seetaram Bramnarain, with a still visibly swollen ankle from an injury he suffered last December (2011), was only paid the equivalent of 10 days’ work, some $24,000, and then certified fit to work by NIS. As a consequence, his family, including a daughter still in school, is also suffering.

 

The workers expressed a strong desire for a new union and were vociferously demanding the AFC to take up the mantle. In response however, the AFC once again, made it clear that it was not there to replace GAWU, but to highlight their issues with the aim of timely resolutions. The AFC told the workers that it recognises the industry as vital not just as a major employer and foreign exchange earner, but also for the enormous contribution it can make to the energy sector through bagasse and ethanol, and therefore, it must not be allowed to collapse.

 

Gerhard Ramsaroop, in his address to the workers, emphasised that the industry is in deep trouble and therefore, cost cutting measures are inevitable. However, rather than have a bottom up approach, which will have severe social implications, the cuts most start at the top. He said this even more befitting given that the PPP Government owes its political power to the sugar workers. He pointed to the extravagant Bharrat Jagdeo pension package (estimated at $3M per month), and the continued practice at the Office President of appointing highly paid advisors, like Gail Texeira and Odinga Lumumba, who respectively earn some $900,000 and $700,000 per month.

 

Gerhard went on to explain that beyond his political work, he had a personal connection to Enmore through his aja (paternal grandfather) who was born there, and his father, Boyo Ramsaroop. He said his father, who supported the PPP for 60 years, died a hurt and broken man because the PPP ended up betraying all he believed in, including the rights of the working class. Gerhard also mentioned his father’s abhorrence for corruption, which led to the workers showing the AFC team the shoddy roadwork in the area, and a bridge, which was reportedly built at a cost of $4M and after three months developed a deep and gaping hole.

 

In closing, Gerhard urged the workers to remain strong and united and that they must continue to pressure GAWU to represent them adequately. He warned that the PPP will try to discourage them and divide them along racial lines. He said it has been reported that the PPP has been acknowledging to its supporters that they have not done as they should have. However, they are then employing fear tactics, saying if they continue to lose support that the PNC will get back in power, and that the AFC is helping them to get there. He urged the workers not to fall for this and to continue to fight for their rights, for their own sakes and that of their families.

 

End.

 

Letter detailing the missing and incorrect NIS records of Munishwar Singh who worked for GuySuCo since 1969.

 

Letter from NIS to Munishwar Singh, who worked with GuySuCo since 1969, but has 8 years of contributions missing and 11 years incorrectly recorded, with the excuse that all his contributions may not be in the computer system.

 

Hole in three month old bridge, reportedly built at a cost G$4M (US$20,000)


Hole in three month old bridge, reportedly built at a cost G$4M (US$20,000)


Hole in three month old bridge, reportedly built at a cost G$4M (US$20,000)








Sugar worker proudly displaying Freddie Kissoon's column covering some of their issues.

 

 

 

Sugar workers calling for removal of the packaging plant manager, who they say is President Ramotar's nephew and earns G$750,000 per month.


Sugar worker displaying the story in Stabroek News that covered some of their issues.

 

Sugar workers calling for removal of the packaging plant manager, who they say is President Ramotar's nephew and earns G$750,000 per month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freddie Kissoon marching with the striking sugar workers.

 

Gerhard Ramsaroop and Freddie Kissoon with the striking sugar workers.

 

 

 

 

Gerhard Ramsaroop and Freddie Kissoon with the striking sugar workers.

 

 

 

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Diss is wy mi tell dem PPP bais fuh get out ah business.  Sell diss industry to some abie coolie businessman an' we goa run it good an prapa.  But diss is PPP cuss roun dem neck.  Dem PPP tek dem sugga wukkas an' mk dem political pawns against da PNC, now dem AFC ah do same.  Dem sugga wukas gon geh use and kik da side in da end cazz economics ah wah matta hay.  Sell da sugga factory to da Ramsaroop man, nex day e' goa tek harse whip an' put dem rass bak to wuk or 'e nah mek nooo prafit.

FM

I have to finally give it to Gmoney, he is going about his political career development the proper way ever since the plywood laptop debacle.  Getting a lot of fact time in the media by identifying(even if factious) with the working class. You don't see Ramjattan or Trotman showing up as they are too busy squeezing their clients in their law practice. Gmoney have lots of free time since the flower plants grow by themselves and don't need his constant attention. Next time they better give this man a seat in parliament for all the exposure he is giving the AFC. 

FM
Originally Posted by BGurd_See:

I have to finally give it to Gmoney, he is going about his political career development the proper way ever since the plywood laptop debacle.  Getting a lot of fact time in the media by identifying(even if factious) with the working class. You don't see Ramjattan or Trotman showing up as they are too busy squeezing their clients in their law practice. Gmoney have lots of free time since the flower plants grow by themselves and don't need his constant attention. Next time they better give this man a seat in parliament for all the exposure he is giving the AFC. 

This gave me a hearty laugh, BGurd_See   With the exception of your jabs at Trotman and Ramjattan.

 

The Gov't, however, must be kicking themselves for firing Freddie, since now he has all day to be stuck in their craw.

FM

Enmore sugar workers strike over payments

About 42 factory workers at the Enmore sugar estate went on strike yesterday over “premium payment” for work done and while the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) said they were not entitled to it, offered to make a one-time payment.

However, the workers told Stabroek News yesterday that they will remain on strike indefinitely and GuySuCo has expressed dismay at the “irresponsible” actions.  This is the second strike for this week that the beleaguered corporation has faced. In a statement, the corporation said that the workers working the 6 am to 2pm shift at the factory took industrial action while demanding “premium payment” which is one and a half times a normal day’s pay for work done last Saturday.

 

The corporation said however, that they were not required to work for two days during that week because of the unavailability of canes to grind since the canes could not have been burnt due to the inclement weather. “The corporation’s business rule on the payment for premium pay for Saturday states that a daily paid time worker must complete 40 hours (of work) before he/she is entitled to this premium payment,” the statement said.

 

Several workers speak with AFC member Gerhard Ramsaroop during yesterday morning’s protest

Several workers speak with AFC member Gerhard Ramsaroop during yesterday morning’s protest

 

It added that a similar demand was made by Blairmont and Enmore factory workers several years ago and the matter was resolved at conciliation where the Chief Labour Officer concurred with GuySuCo’s position. “When the workers at Enmore (yesterday) decided to proceed on strike they were advised by management that on this instance only, they will be paid the premium payment as a medium to facilitate a meeting with GAWU early next week to bring a permanent settlement on this matter, despite the fact that it was resolved at conciliation a few years ago,” the statement said. It added that the decision was also made because 4750 tonnes of cane was waiting to be processed.

 

Factory workers during yesterday’s industrial action

Factory workers during yesterday’s industrial action

Efforts to reach officials of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) yesterday were futile and reports are that the matter is engaging the attention of the Chief Labour Officer who has been meeting with both parties in recent times over similar strike actions.

 

Concerns


Yesterday, the Enmore factory workers told Stabroek News that they were not going to return to the factory unless their concerns are addressed. The workers noted that GAWU head Komal Chand has not addressed their concerns as promised and called for him to step down as head of GAWU. Chand could not be reached for comment yesterday.

 

According to Hickman Adams, he and Deochand Singh led the protest action since the rights of the workers are not being addressed by GuySuCo. He said that he worked with the entity for a number of years and the refusal of the corporation to make the payment will lead to many persons joining the 300 plus persons who have left the industry in recent years.

 

Adams said that the safety of the workers also needs to be addressed since the entity has refused to replace clothing and other apparel which are damaged while on the job. “The boots what I have, it gat to last me whole year and if something happen to it they going replace it but that gat to carry me through next year,” said Roochand Kawall- one of the striking workers. The 57-year-old man stated that the strike was on the horizon since according to him, the corporation has paid little attention to their concerns. He said that the workers receive an average of $5,000 per month in payments, adding “tell me with that money what it could do.”

 

Losing sugar


Other workers told Stabroek News that the corporation has paid little attention to the operation of the factory and said that the facility has been losing sugar. According to them, almost daily two tonnes of sugar is counted as a loss since the machinery there has malfunctioned. They said that the engineers tasked with repairing the equipment are also lacking in experience and the operations are not given adequate attention.

 

Yesterday afternoon this newspaper was told that officials of the corporation were expected to meet with representatives of GAWU where the matter was expected to be discussed. Guysuco, in its statement said that another estate earlier this week raised a similar demand as Enmore and a meeting was already fixed for Monday with GAWU to deliberate on the matter.

 

This was told to the Enmore factory reps yesterday but they still proceeded on strike, the statement said. It added that Singh and Adams refused to entertain management’s proposals and opted to lead the workers on strike. “These representatives most irresponsibly stated that they will remain on strike and allow the 293 punts of cane (1,750 tonnes) in dock and 500 punts of burnt canes (3,000 tonnes) in the cultivation ‘to spoil’,” the statement said. It added that several attempts were made to meet with the reps but they refused.

 

On Thursday, workers at Enmore took strike action over their working conditions and outlined several concerns to representatives of the Alliance For Change (AFC).

FM

Striking sugar worker stands in a hole

 

A striking sugar worker stands in a hole on a multi-million dollar road that has also been undermined in several sections. The road was built by GuySuCo to gain access to the packaging plant at Enmore. (Photo by Kojo McPherson)

 

20120310Enmore

FM

New US$12.5M Enmore Packaging Plant a white elephant – sugar workers

MARCH 11, 2012 | BY  | FILED UNDER NEWS 

 

Sugar workers have said that the Enmore Packaging Plant, built at a cost of some US$12.5M, still does not function properly. For example, sugar is supposed to be conveyed directly to the packaging plant from the factory, but when it meets the screw worm at the plant, the sugar is crushed to a powder-like substance. The sugar has to be transported via forklifts, leading to additional costs.

 

“This is a next white elephant; nothing ain’t doing over there and we getting victimize,” one worker stated. The worker explained that although the factory is grinding seven days a week, the workers at the packaging plant are only getting five working days a week. This, they said, is unfair since their take home pay per week ends up being grossly inadequate. Some workers showed their weekly pay slips which indicated that they were earning a little under $5000. “All ah we is family men and we gat things to look after,” the packaging plant worker stated.

 

The role of the sugar worker is critical to the viability of Guyana’s largest industry; but for now they are beginning to believe that they are no longer needed. Many are of the view that the company has over extended itself on projects that have proven to be failures. The Skeldon Factory immediately comes to mind. But recently the Enmore Packaging Plant has been added to that list.

 

Enmore Estate workers protest outside the Enmore Sugar Factory.

 

The plight of the sugar workers, especially those on East Coast Demerara, was further amplified as they again took industrial action sending strong signals to management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation that enough is enough.


On Friday, for the second time in a week, the workers at the Enmore Estate downed tools and protested what they called exploitation and uncaring treatment by the management of the sugar company. On Thursday, cane cutters took strike action over their NIS arrangement. On Friday, factory workers and employees from the Enmore packaging plant added to the woes of the company, picketing just outside the Enmore Estate. Their main issue was the non-payment of overtime to those who worked last Saturday and Sunday.


This was not the first time that the issue had been highlighted. The workers explained that this situation occurred once before during the last crop last year, and after their union (GAWU) intervened, the issue was resolved for the balance of the crop. However, the promise to pay the workers the overtime lost was never fulfilled. When workers collected their wages last Friday and found that the situation had not been resolved as was promised, they immediately went on strike.

 

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in response to the strike, has agreed to pay the workers the overtime. However, the sugar corporation is maintaining that the new arrangement whereby workers must complete 40 hours of work before they are entitled to any overtime on Saturdays and Sundays, will remain in place. This arrangement, however, has not found favour with the workers who are further aggrieved by what they claimed is management’s deliberate practice of denying them ‘days’ during the week so that they will not make their 40 hours, and therefore, have to work over the weekend for normal pay.


GuySuCo has embarked on massive cost cutting measures which have been severely criticised for the way it is being implemented. The ordinary sugar workers who have been the backbone of the industry again pointed to management for the troubles GUYSUCO finds itself in today. The workers are also pointing fingers at the plant’s manager, who they say is a relative of President Ramotar and who earns some $750,000 per month. “Dey shut down LBI and bring we over to Enmore fuh punish we more. Five days a week wuk could mind family?” they asked.

 

Once again members of the Alliance for Change travelled to Enmore to show their solidarity with the workers. AFC’s Gerhard Ramsaroop told the workers his party had noted that the plant was controversial from the inception, with experts pointing to larger plants being built for less in other parts of the world.  In addition, shortly after it was commissioned in May 2011, there was an explosion which resulted in the death of Jainarine Singh, whose widow was then given the royal run-around by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).


AFC’s Gerhard Ramsaroop explains his party’s position to the striking workers.

 

He emphasised that the industry is in deep trouble and therefore, cost cutting measures are inevitable.  “However, rather than have a bottom up approach, which will have severe social implications, the cuts must start at the top.”

Ramsaroop pointed to the extravagant Bharrat Jagdeo pension package (estimated at $3M per month), and the continued practice at the Office President of appointing highly paid advisors, like Gail Teixeira and Odinga Lumumba, who respectively earn some $900,000 and $700,000 per month.


The workers expressed a strong desire for a new union and were vociferously demanding the AFC to take up the mantle. But in response, however, Ramsaroop made it clear that the AFC was not there to replace GAWU, but to highlight their issues with the aim of timely resolutions. Ramsaroop said that AFC recognises the industry as vital not just as a major employer and foreign exchange earner, but also for the enormous contribution it can make to the energy sector through bagasse and ethanol, and therefore, it must not be allowed to collapse.


The AFC member urged the workers to remain strong and united and that they must continue to pressure GAWU to represent them adequately.

FM

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