Vieira workers down tools over incentives payment
by Jaime Hall
Guyana Chronicle
October 28, 2003
Sugar workers employed with Vieira's Houston Estate yesterday downed tools to press demands for management to pay them the incentives workers at other estates are benefiting from.
They held a peaceful demonstration exercise outside of the Houston compound with placards highlighting their concerns.
The workers are demanding that Vieira pay an additional 2.5 percent increase, which is the remaining payment due to them from a five percent increase.
Workers' representative Mr. Puran Persaud yesterday explained that the workers over years have been given the same increases in wages like workers of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO).
However, this year Houston workers have been given arbitrarily 2.5 percent increase while other sugar workers continue to receive 5 percent. The workers are also asking management to pay the Annual Production Incentive (API).
He said the Persaud Tribunal of 2003 awarded 5 percent increase and therefore the workers at Houston should not be denied the 5 percent increase.
According to Persaud, Management of Houston Estate "refused to have this dispute resolved between it self and the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU)".
A statement from the workers said that during a meeting at the Ministry of Labour, the management of Houston Estate refused to recognize GAWU as the union representing the workers but only facilitated the Union in discussions at a bilateral level.
The workers said they would down tools two or three days per week until the 5 percent increase is paid to them.