Vieira workers call off protest
By Jaime Hall
Guyana Chronicle
October 29, 2003
An agreement has been reached by Houston Estate and the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers' Union (GAWU) on terms of resumption for workers who down tools on Monday to press demands for a 2.5% increase the estate management due them.
The workers 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% increase which is the remaining payment due to them from a 5% increase from which other sugar workers are benefiting.
The terms of agreement state that:
(1) The union will call off the strike by its members on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at normal working time with the full resumption on Thursday, October 30, 2003.
(2)The status quo ante will prevail.
(3) There shall be no victimization by either side.
(4) The parties will meet under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Labour on Friday, October 31, 2003 at 10:00 hrs to discuss the issue of wages and Annual Production Incentive (API) for 2003.
Workers' representative Mr. Puran Persaud during the picketing exercise explained that the workers over the 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).
The Persaud Tribunal of 2003 awarded 5 percent increase to sugar workers and therefore the workers at Houston should not be denied the 5 percent increase, he contends.