GAWU Combat - July-September, 2021

Issue #3 Volume #42

Combat Voice of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)

Exploitation in the oil sector

The exploitation of the working-class has been a long-standing hallmark of the dominant economic system of capitalism. By its very nature, capitalism is concerned with the maximization of profits to the owner-class.

It realizes this objective through what the system deems the factors of production – land/equipment, capital, and labour. The exploitation of those factors has resulted in the significant expansion of wealth to the owner class.

Capitalism’s dominance has spawned the rise of obscene wealth among a few, and painful impoverishment and hardship for millions of ordinary people. To put it in perspective, UK-based charity OXFAM has found that the combined wealth of the world’s richest 1% is greater than the wealth of 6.9 billion people.

In Guyana, there has been credible improvements over the last few decades. Impoverishment has declined among our people as incomes have risen. Today, our people have steadily made gains in improving their well-being and standard-of-living, reversing declines during the period of undemocratic rule between 1964 and 1992.

Those gains were, to some extent, reversed and threatened during the 2015 – 2020 period, when the Coalition Government held the reins of power. During that period, several anti-people measures were taken and important goods and services were taxed, while the cost-of-living rose significantly. Thankfully, that sordid chapter of our history was closed when the democratic forces succeeded in removing the Coalition, which was bent on undemocratic rule after it lost the elections.

Presently, our country is on the cusp of probably its greatest economic expansion ever. In 2015, Guyana struck oil off its coast. Since then to now, some twenty-three (23) discoveries have been made, and latest estimates put Guyana’s oil holdings at some nine billion barrels. For a small country, it represents an enormous windfall. With oil production commencing in latter 2019, it was no surprise that Guyana, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, recorded high levels of economic growth in 2020. It is expected that the economy will expand several times over in the coming years as oil production is ramped up.

With oil the new king of the economy, there are high expectations that the windfall will reach the ordinary people. Recent data from ExxonMobil indicated that around 53% of the workforce comprises Guyanese, and in the coming years, this will rise to around 75%. It appears to be an impressive and remarkable development. But alas, all that glitters is not gold. The sector has become fertile grounds for exploitative practices. Workers’ lawful rights are ignored by local and foreign enterprises in the sector. The benefits and conditions-of-work enjoyed by Guyanese leave much to be desired, and can be seen as hardly compensatory for the risky and strenuous jobs undertaken. In offering a feeble excuse, it is often said that Guyanese are inexperienced, and, overtime as experience is gained, the benefits and conditions-of-work will improve. This, for us, holds little water, and is yet another instance of exploitation of the locals to enrich the owner-class.

Continued on page two (2)

July/September, 2021

Sugar production heading to a new low Blairmont

It appears that the 2021 sugar production will reach a new low, as production continues to inch along. As at September 30, 2021, sugar production for the year stood at 43,042 tonnes sugar. This year, the GuySuCo had orginally set itself to produce 97,240 tonnes sugar – 42,608 tonnes in the first crop, and 54,812 tonnes in the second crop. Thus, at the end of September 2021, the GuySuCo had just surpassed its initial first crop target. GuySuCo recently revised its second crop target to 49,969 tonnes sugar, and the crop’s production as at the end of September 2021 was as follows: Estate Albion

Target 22,145

Actual 3,105

Difference 19,040

16,525

6,096

10,429

Uitvlugt

11,299

4,180

7,119

Industry

49,969

13,381

36,588

The GuySuCo has blamed its woes on the extended rainy season and the inundation of the Albion cultivation for several weeks. Indeed, the rains would have inhibited production. Notwithstanding the rains, we believe our controllable factors continue to bedevil the industry, particularly in the fields. In this edition of Combat, we have drawn attention to the situation of the fields at Blairmont.

We believe this is symptomatic of what is the real issue that plagues the industry - a lack of sufficient quality canes in the fields.

Though the industry was starved of capital investment between 2015 and 2020, during the life of the former Government, we recognise that the incumbent Irfaan Ali Government has considerably supported the sector since its assumption to office. Despite several billions channelled and high expectations for a reversal of the fortunes, it appears those who manage the industry have let us down.

Clearly, it appears to us, there is need for a serious relook at the industry’s management to ensure that it is in capable, competent hands that can arrest the situation.

The GAWU believes such objectives are attainable, and, with the right team and a committed workforce, can be attained in a short period.

Ex-GFC workers call on Commission to respect their rights

Former workers of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), together with officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), staged a picketing exercise outside of the GFC Head Office in Kingston, Georgetown on September 16, 2021. Joining the former workers and the GAWU personnel were a few others, who stood in solidarity with the former workers.

The workers protested the refusal of the payment of terminal benefits to them following the GFC’s decision to terminate their employment. GAWU had represented the

matter to the Commission, pointing out that the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) obligated an employer to pay severance pay on the termination. Arising from the GFC’s stance, the Union approached the Ministry of Labour, which recommended that the workers be paid severance pay, in keeping with TESPA. The Commission’s representatives had requested some time to respond to the Ministry and the Union. By letter dated September 10, 2021, the GFC informed it had decided not to respect the Ministry’s recommendation. The Union, in the meantime, has sought the Ministry’s further intervention, as the matter remains live.

The workers, having learnt of the Commission’s decision, were deeply upset and disturbed. They shared that while the Commission and themselves may have had differences, they did not expect the GFC to treat them in the manner which they are. The workers are contending they are seeking to move on, and all they seek is for their right to severance be respected. The GAWU, at this time, urges the GFC, as a state agency, to reconsider its position and ensure that the workers’ rights are safeguarded.

Page 2

Exploitation in the oil sector Continued from page one (1)

The sector has been also a teeming hive for discrimination. Several ‘experienced’ foreigners are paid several times more than their local counterparts for undertaking the same tasks. Additionally, local have complained about the treatment they receive at the hands of the foreigners.

Workers have expressed concerns that they appear to be second-class in their own country. They shared that, at times, foreigners react in a haughty manner towards them, and seemingly seek to denigrate them.

The collision of issues in the sector is yet another reminder of the exploitative practices workers are facing in the sector. They operate in a sector which is very much associated with capitalism’s dominance.

The workers, while suffering policies of pauperization, are witnessing the firms accruing significant profits. Those profits

are earned from their efforts and sacrifice, yet they are treated with serious scorn and disdain. Capitalism recognizes them as a mere factor of production, a commodity which is replaceable and exploitable, and not as human beings to be treated in a dignified and humane manner. The exploitative tendencies of capitalism are linked to other crises of our times in the environment, world peace, impoverishment, and inequality.

It is necessary for workers to be organized in genuine organisations that will advance their interests, protect their well-being, and safeguard their future. The unionization of workers has brought several gains to the organized workforce. They enjoy superior benefits, earn higher rates-of-pay, and are treated in a fair and just manner. It is time for the workers of the oil sector to become organized and receive their due returns.

GAWU at this time stands with them!

Skeldon workers call on GuySuCo to end discriminatory practices!

Combat - April- June 2021

De Kinderen bridge results in loss of canes at Uitvlugt Estate

Workers of Uitvlugt Estate have drawn to the Union’s attention a bridge located in the De Kinderen section of the cultivation is causing the quantities of harvested canes to be left in the canals. As depicted in the pictures laden cane punts (barges) traverse underneath the bridge on their way to the factory, canes are dislodged, arising from the low deck of the bridge.

As a result, cane cutters, who are paid based on the tonnes of canes harvested, would see their earnings reduced. The workers shared with the GAWU that they have reported this issue to the Management on more than one occasion, however, it appears their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

The workers apprised the GAWU of the situation, and, almost immediately, the Union wrote the GuySuCo Head Office on the matter. We contended that workers were being shortchanged and the Corporation was losing production because of the height of the bridge. We have sought a response from the Corporation, but at the time of this article being written, we are yet to hear from GuySuCo. We have, however, learnt that presumably following our correspondence, the estate has raised the bridge deck to allow laden punts to traverse unhindered. The workers have expressed their appreciation for the Union’s intervention, though they lamented the inaction of the Corporation.

GAWU wins poll at Guyana Gold Board

Several workers of Skeldon Estate, supported by the GAWU, on September 27, 2021 picketed outside of the estate, calling on the GuySuCo to end its discriminatory benefits’ practices. The workers are protesting a decision by the sugar company to pay gratuity to employees at the managerial, supervisory, and clerical levels while denying similar payments to workers employed in the field, factory, and allied areas. The workers are at a loss at the Corporation’s decision for their exclusion. They charged that they, like the other benefitting groups, were offered fixedterm contracts and therefore see no reason why they should not benefit from the payments awarded to the other workers.

The GAWU, having learnt of the situation, addressed the matter with the GuySuCo Head Office. Despite several rational arguments advanced, the sugar company,

by letter of September 23, 2021, said it could not agree to offer similar benefits to the workers. No reason or explanation was provided by the Corporation for its decision. The workers having learnt of the Corporation’s adamancy on the matter, became deeply upset and felt cheated.

They indicated to the GAWU they felt of less worth than their colleagues at the other levels of the estate.

In the meantime, the GAWU is advancing its representation, and will seek the involvement of the Ministry of Labour through conciliation. The Union and the workers also urge the GuySuCo to soberly review its position and to treat all workers equally. Indeed, we believe that given the relevant sections of the Prevention of Discrimination Act, such call is not unfair or imprudent.

workers of the GGB after they felt the representation from the GWU was lacking. Workers subsequently completed GAWU application forms, and the Union submitted its applicaGuyana Gold Board Head Office in Georgetown tion to the Trade Union Workers of the Guyana Gold Board Recognition and Certification Board (GGB) will now be represented by the (TURCB). Following the TURCB’s conGuyana Agricultural and General Worksideration of the GAWU application, a ers Union (GAWU), following a poll bepoll was ordered to determine which tween the Union and the General WorkUnion enjoyed the majority support of ers Union (GWU) held on September 22, the workers. That poll was concluded 2021. Results from polling stations set recently. up at the GGB offices in Georgetown, The GAWU welcomes the workers of Port Kaituma and Bartica saw the GAWU the GGB to its fold, as we work together securing the greater votes among the with them to improve their benefits and two (2) unions. other conditions of work.

The GAWU was approached by the

Combat - April- June 2021

A victory for workers!

Labour Ministry tells oil company to respect workers’ rights

Canes at Blairmont in a terrible state

Page 3 Purported Puran Brothers officials violating workers freedom of association – officials threaten GAWU officials

Canes entangled with vines that are being harvested at Blairmont Estate The GAWU’s Oil and Gas branch had disclosed that firms operating in the sector, through varying measures, were seeking to dissuade their workers from becoming unionized.

The policies of firms were, from our perspective, an attempt to undermine workers’ rights, perpetuate exploitative practices, and seek to underpay and overwork them. It was disturbing for the GAWU that though workers have won the right to belong to Unions, local and foreign firms alike were seeking every conceivable meant to attack that right. We held the restriction of workers’ freedom of association was part of a wider policy to trample on workers’ rights generally, towards engaging them in oppressive conditions in attempt to enrich the owners.

The denial of workers’ freedom of association was a blatant violation of Guyanese constitutional right to belong to trade unions. It contravened the Trade Union Recognition Act, and it was a clear departure from the spirit and intent of ILO Convention 87. It represented, in our view, a highly detestable act, and one which GAWU was deeply bothered about.

Our continued engagements with workers caused to reach to our hand one enterprise openly dissuading its employees from becoming unionized. The evidence was incontrovertible, and was an indicator of the esteem held for workers in the sector. The GAWU drew this information to the attention of Minister of

Labour, Joseph Hamilton, calling for his Ministry’s intervention. Arising from the GAWU’s request, we learnt that the delinquent firm was summoned by the Ministry, and was told in no uncertain terms that it was infringing on the rights of Guyanese.

The Ministry of Labour has recently informed the GAWU that the Company will remove the offensive elements from its paraphernalia. Our Union has informed the workers of this victory; though we are saddened that it required the Ministry’s involvement, we are heartened that workers’ rights were safeguarded. We see the outcome as a dent in the armory of the oilocracy, and firms are not as invincible as they may wish to believe. The GAWU, at the same time, urges workers to be watchful and to ensure that their rights are not disregarded by their bosses.

We are convinced that further victories are within grasp if the workers are organised. Their coming together with responsible and capable leadership would ensure that their rights are not trampled upon, and they are treated in a respectful and dignified manner. The GAWU remains available to all workers who continue to confront exploitative practices and unlawful measures. Indeed, we stand in solidarity with the workers who seemingly are seen as a commodity which is cheaply available and easily replaceable rather than human beings whose efforts realize billions in profits for the owners and their hangers-on.

Cane cutters of the Blairmont Estate have complained to the GAWU about the condition of the canes they are required to harvest during the ongoing second crop. As the pictures indicate, canes are entangled with vines and fields are inundated with grass and weeds. The cutters shared with the Union that the state of the cultivation is highly depressing, and significantly impedes their productivity. As a result, the workers earnings are curtailed as they are determined based on the weight of the canes they harvest.

Usually a cane harvester when required to cut and load their canes into punts (barges), would harvest approximately 2.6 tonnes of canes daily. In instances where they are required to cut and heap their canes for loading by machines, they would harvest some

4.5 tonnes of canes daily.

Cutters, if conditions are normal, could harvest even greater quantities of canes which allows them to earn incentives. However, they shared that given the conditions in the cultivation, they are unable to attain the higher tranches of their incentives, thus further constraining their earnings.

The poor level of earnings is forcing some workers to seek employment elsewhere in order to make ends meet.

The GAWU has written the GuySuCo, seeking a joint Union/Management visit to the cultivation. In our correspondence, we expressed our deep concern and apprehension. We urged that there is need for a plan of action to take corrective action and to restore Blairmont Estate to the pride of place it once enjoyed.

GAWU/DHCB negotiations bring further improvements for workers!

Discussions between the GAWU and the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) have seen the parties reaching agreement on some matters. Earlier this year, the Union submitted its proposals to the DHBC, seeking increases in pay, improvements in certain allowances, the introduction of a production incentive scheme for employees of the Asphalt Plant, and a year-end bonus to employees.

Through a few engagements, the DHBC has approved a ten (10) percent hike in meals’ allowances for all employees. Additionally, the DHBC sought

to implement a night shift for maintenance employees. In this regard, the Union proposed that maintenance employees required to work during night shift should receive a night premium of $1,500 tax-free. After some discussion, the DHBC approved our proposal, and has recently written seek an amendment of the extant CLA to take account of the new working arrangements. The parties soon will continue discussions on the outstanding matters. The GAWU is hopeful that agreement can be quickly reached on its other proposals.

Purported officials of Puran Brothers who confronted the Union’s officials Purported officials of Puran Brothers earlier on September 17, 2021 engaged in threatening behaviour toward officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) who were engaging employees of Puran Brothers. The workers had shared with our Union issues regarding violation of their workplace rights and concerns over poor conditions-of-work.

Arising from those interactions, officials of the GAWU ventured to continue discussions with the workers. It appears the Puran Brothers officials may have gotten wind of the interactions and ventured to a shop where the Union officials were located. The company’s officials then began to threaten our GAWU officials and attempted to snatch their possessions. Our officials then came under attack and sand was thrown at one of our officials while another of the company’s personnel verbally assaulted him. This was after one of our officials

replied to a derogatory remark launched towards the Union’s personnel.

The GAWU denounces the attempts by the Puran Brothers’ officials. Their threatening behaviour is obviously an attempt to intimidate the Union and more so the workers. We learnt following the interaction with our Union, officials, the workers were summoned to the company’s premises.

Presumably they may have been warned about seeking to have their rights respected. The GAWU denounces the attempt by officials of the well-known company to undermine and dissuade the workers from pursuing their rights. Our Union officials have since reported the matter to the Guyana Police Force.

The GAWU calls on the Minister and Ministry of Labour to act swiftly to ensure that the workers’ inalienable constitutional rights are protected, and they are treated with decency, respect and dignity, which all our workers deserve.

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Combat - April- June 2021

GAWU/GuySuCo reach agreement on Albion cane cutters’ impasse

A meeting between officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the shop stewards and workers of the cane cutting gangs of Albion Estate was held with head office and estate officials of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) on September 19, 2021, and negotiation and discussion resulted in an agreement being reached.

During the meeting, GAWU pointed out that the situation at Albion Estate was unusual, arising from the inundation of the estate severely stressing the canes and reducing their weights. Cane cutters are piece-rated workers and are paid based on the tonnes of canes harvested. That weight is known when cane punts are weighted at the factory. GAWU’s President, Seepaul Narine, who led the Union’s delegation, drew to GuySuCo’s attention the earnings of workers. He pointed out that though the workers were completing their daily tasks, their earnings were well below what is usual.

The Union articulated that a worker’s task is assigned by the Management with the expectation that certain tonnes of canes would be harvested from the assigned area. GAWU contended it is a fact that the workers earnings were below their normal level though they were completing their assigned tasks, and this was because of light canes. The Union shared that the workers were responsibly completing their tasks, but, for their best efforts, their earnings were curtailed. GAWU reminded the GuySuCo team that, in the past, the Corporation had compensated workers whenever their tasks were completed but their cane weights were not attained.

From that point of view, the Union urged the GuySuCo to revert to known and established practices.

The GuySuCo, through its CEO, Sase-

narine Singh, acknowledged that the situation at Albion was unusual. He acknowledged the workers’ concerns as he noted that it required the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure that production is maximised and the estate is able to recover from the serious setback arising from the floods. The GuySuCo CEO indicated that the Corporation wanted to work together with the workers and the Union, noting their critical role in reversing the fortunes of the Corporation.

Having heard from the GAWU, the GuySuCo proposed that for this crop only at Albion, recognizing the unique situation, the workers would be compensated for difference between their usual productivity per punt and the actual canes cut and loaded or cut and stacked. To receive the compensation, the workers would have to complete their tasks assigned. The agreement also places a limitation on the task assigned to workers, in keeping with long-standing practices.

GAWU President, Seepaul Narine, shared that the Union, was heartened that the Corporation listened carefully and considered the concerns of the workers and the Union and that an agreement could be reached. He said this augurs well for worker/management relations and he was hopeful for further improvement in the GAWU/GuySuCo relations. The Corporation’s CEO, Sasenarine Singh, also expressed the Corporation’s appreciation to the workers and the Union. He shared that it was heartening that the Union and the Company could sit down and discuss matters in a mature manner. He indicated that the Corporation looks forward to working with the Union and strengthening the relations between the parties.

Workers concerned about crime situation - FITUG

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has taken note of the recent crime statistics published by the Guyana Police Force. The statistics indicate that crime is on the decline, however, our interactions with workers do not coincide with the conclusions of the police force. Many workers have reported that petty crime has been on the increase in recent months. They indicated that it appeared marauding criminals are sparing no effort to pounce on unwitting Guyanese.

The Federation has heard utterances that the spate of criminality is linked to certain ulterior motives. We, however, are unable to verify such statements, but at the same time cannot discount them given our history. Whatever is the motivation, we urge the authorities to seek to address them in a comprehensive man-

ner. We recognise that the Government has taken conscious decisions to equip the police force with the tools to confront crime. Certainly, given the recent bolstering of resources, we have expectations that the police will be able to respond to criminal situations in a timely manner, or to conduct patrols to dissuade those who have criminal intentions in mind.

The FITUG has recognised as well the recent breakthroughs and successes in apprehending criminal elements. These are heartening, and we look forward to continued success on that front. At the same time, we believe it necessary that those charged with addressing crime fighting develop an appropriate and coordinated plan to address the menacing crime situation. Apart from regular patrols, there is need for intelligence work being done to seek out criminal networks. At the same time, programmes to build collaboration between the police and communities should be fostered. We believe these, among other measures, could dent the crime situation and allow Guyanese to go about their day-to-day activities in a peaceful manner.

GAWU condemns derogatory and misogynic song directed to Minister Manickchand The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) joins in expressing condemnation of what could only be described as a lewd, vile, and clearly misogynic song directed towards Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand. Of greater discomfort is the publicizing of the derogatory song by a sitting Member of Parliament (MP). We believe that the MP, as a national leader, ought to know and certainly do better. The actions by the MP, in our view, are an embarrassment to the wider Opposition and are an insult to all Guyanese.

We see the attack on the Minister as an attack on all women and the gains they have secured through their struggles.

The Minister, during her public life, has been a staunch advocate for women’s rights and thus the attempt to denigrate her character is most unbecoming. The GAWU upholds the advancement of women’s rights and thus we were most perturbed by the actions being touted by some as entertainment. It goes against any sense of morality, decency and in-

tegrity, characteristics touted by the now Opposition during the 2020 elections campaign.

The GAWU recognizes in the political sphere disagreements are bound to arise. We, at the same time, contend such disagreements should relate to issues and not personalities. It is on this score that we express our dismay that the Opposition Member’s disagreement with the Minister has descended into a completely uncalled for personal attack.

As a leader, the MP should be setting an example for all Guyanese, especially our youth. The attempt to score petty political points through crude antics and gimmicks does not bring any good for our nation and its people. Those who are responsible for the composition, recital and distribution of the derogatory song should collectively hang their heads in shame. Such actions are reprehensible by any yardstick, and those responsible should offer an unequivocal apology to the Minister and all Guyanese.

Combat - April- June 2021

GAWU/DTL resume bilateral discussions Union looks forward to fruitful and cordial working relations

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL), for the first time in nearly five (5) years, met bilaterally on September 09, 2021 to discuss several issues. The resumption of discussions followed the intervention of the Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, and other Ministry officials.

The DTL had been refusing to engage the GAWU, though the Union, was the bona-fide representative of the workers employed by the Company, was seeking to minimize interactions through the exchange of writer correspondences.

The Union contended that the DTL’s stance was a breach of the Trade Union Recognition Act, which obligates discussions between the parties. The GAWU also pointed out that the Recognition and Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement between the Union and the Company required the DTL to engage on a face-toface basis.

Through the Ministry’s intervention, the DTL relented and agreed to resume bilateral discussions with

the Union. At the meeting, both parties expressed a willingness to work together to advance the Company’s operations while seeking to improve the workers’ benefits and conditions-of-work. During the meeting, the Union made several proposals and sought that the Company soberly consider them.

The DTL has undertaken to consult its managerial team before responding to the Union. Additionally, the GAWU and the DTL have agreed to collaborate on a few matters, including the operationalization of a health centre at Mabura Hill, and towards the improvement of water supply in the area. On some matters, the Company has agreed with our proposals, and in other instances, have begun to address the issues.

The GAWU is of the view that the meeting was positive. We look forward to reengage the DTL soon to continue our discussions.

We believe that our working together could meaningfully assist the company and the workers.

COVID-19 situation alarming It is hard for the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) to ignore the rising number of COVID-19 infections in our beloved country.

Even more alarming is the increased number of persons who have succumbed to the dreaded virus. Though not yet confirmed, it appears that our country is now gripped by the Delta variant, which is more virulent than previous variants, and is at the root of the rising infections.

Despite the several warnings, we continue to witness Guyanese adopting a lax attitude to the several measures which can safeguard them from being infected. It is disturbing that many mature individuals have taken such a relaxed approach, potentially exposing themselves and their family members to the dreaded virus. Additionally, we are concerned about the hosting and organizing of gatherings which can promote the rapid spread of the virus.

Given the rising spate of cases, it is prudent, in our view, to ensure that gatherings are kept to a minimum, and appropriate restrictions be enforced to protect the health of all Guyanese.

Of course, our way out of the pandemic is linked to the inoculation of our people. Disturbingly, we recognise that there are many who continue to spread great lot of misinformation

to the detriment of the vaccination programmes. It is now scientific fact that vaccination reduces the risk of severe infection. We have learnt recently that most who have become critically ill or have succumbed either have not been vaccinated or not fully vaccinated. The FITUG again urges all Guyanese to take advantage of the Government’s vaccination programme.

Linked to the question of vaccines has been the re-

cent expressions regarding regulations on unvaccinated Guyanese. This is a matter that is now engaging the attention of the Judiciary. As a responsible organisation, the FITUG will refrain from offering any comment, but await the decision of the Courts. In the meantime, we believe, as individuals, we must take every precaution to protect ourselves. We urge social distancing, regular sanitation, and wearing of appropriate masks correctly.

Such efforts, together with vaccinations, could lead us out of the pandemic and allow our lives to return to what they once were. Already, too many have been lost, and we should all seek to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers.

Page 5

Berbice Bridge workers picket company over breach of OSH Act

Members of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) at the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) on September 07, 2021 staged a picketing exercise outside of the company, calling on the management to respect the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. The workers are peeved over the management’s refusal to replace personal protective equipment (PPE) damaged during the course of their work. Attempts by the GAWU and the workers to have the BBCI replace damaged PPE have been rejected bluntly by the Management.

The workers shared they learnt that the leading manager is reported to have said that the workers have already received their PPE entitlements and they should purchase any replacement. Those sentiments deeply upset the workers, especially recognizing that their rights are being trampled. On this score, it is apt to point out that Section 46(1)(a) of the OSH Act says “An employer shall ensure that the equipment, materials and protective devices and clothing as prescribed are provided”. It appears that the management and/or manager is either ignorant of the OSH Act or is ignoring the rights of the workers. Whatever the case may be, it cannot be countenanced from any point of view. Moreover, it is almost asinine that the Management would wish to ex-

pose itself to such liability.

To send a worker to work without adequate protection opens the BBCI to unnecessary liability should the worker sustain an injury which could be mitigated by proper PPE. Joining the workers was BBCI Director Faizul Jafferally, who expressed his solidarity and support. The BBCI Director was disturbed that the workers’ rights were being violated.

The GAWU and the workers used the opportunity to engage Director Jafferally on some other issues which the Union, for some time, has been addressing with the management.

The Director committed to the Union and the workers that he would seek to have the Board address these issues within a short time.

We are pleased by the Director’s presence, and we look forward to his support.

For the GAWU is it disturbing that the workers must raise their voices in order for their lawful rights to be respected. The struggles for such rights have been waged and won by past generations of the working-class. It demonstrates the workers must be organized and united if they are to protect their gains and advance their lot. We call on the BBCI to ensure that the lives and well-being of its workers are protected at all times as they ensure the safe operation of that vital transport link.

For every month worked, a worker is entitled to a day’s leave

Page 6

Combat - April- June 2021

More than 7 million people in Germany in precarious employment

by Elisabeth Zimmermann More than 7 million people in Germany work in “atypical” or precarious jobs; that is, just under 21 percent of the country’s 33.4 million workforce. These figures are the result of a special analysis by the Federal Statistical Office (Microcensus 2020) carried out at the request of the Left Party parliamentary group in the Bundestag.

The Federal Statistical Office counts temporary and contract work, marginal employment such as mini-jobs, part-time work with contracts of less than 20 hours per week, and fixed-term employment as “atypical” employment. These jobs are invariably low paid, with incomes barely sufficient for a person to live on.

In addition, such workers face the constant uncertainty as to whether or not their fixed-term employment contracts will be extended.

Medium- and long-term planning for their lives are impossible.

When one adds the 4.5 million part-time workers with more than 20 hours per week, whom the Federal Statistical Office does not count as “atypical” employees, a total of 11.5 million male and female workers do not work in so-called normal jobs. This means that one-third of the workforce is engaged in part-time and/or precarious work, far more

than previously suspected.

The growth of the precarious labour sector in Germany to one of the largest in Europe is primarily the product of the anti-welfare Hartz laws introduced by the former Social Democratic Party/ Green Party coalition (1999– 2004) led by Gerhard Schröder (SPD). The legislation passed by the Schröder government has led to a massive increase in social inequality.

Other studies show a strong concentration of the low-wage sector in different regions. A recent publication by the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) in Berlin-Brandenburg illustrates the extent of the low-wage sector in the capital city and its surroundings. The DGB study is based on an evaluation by the socio-economic panel (SOEP) and covers the years from 2017 to 2019.

During this period, an average of 375,000 people in Berlin worked in the low-wage sector, 24.3 percent of the working population. In Brandenburg, the figure was around 280,000, a share of 27.7 percent. The hourly wage in this sector was below €11.13, less than two-thirds of the average gross hourly wage and little more than the statutory minimum wage of €9.60.

The study also shows that foreign-born workers are dispropor-

tionately affected by low-wage work. In Berlin, the percentage of low paid immigrant workers is 30.5 percent, in Brandenburg 65.4 percent. More than half of semi-skilled and unskilled workers are making low wages in Berlin and 73.2 percent in Brandenburg. In Berlin, 85.2 percent of so-called “mini-jobbers” are low wage, while 90.9 percent are low wage in Brandenburg. Similar conditions prevail in other regions with equivalent levels of high social inequality.

The country’s trade unions and the DGB bear a significant share of responsibility for the development of this huge low-wage sector. They have sat, and continue to sit, on all the commissions that produce this type of insecure employment and the low minimum wage. Large corporations and businesses use outsourcing to subcontractors or temporary work agencies to lower wages and worsen working conditions for thousands who used to be employed on a regular basis.

Industries with the most lowwage workers include retail, with a 16.1 percent share in 2019; food services, 9.2 percent; building services, 9.1 percent; health care, 8.5 percent; and education, 4.8 percent. The figures are based on a study by the Institute for Work and Qualification (IAQ Report 2021-06), as reported in

the Tagesspiegel newspaper in early September.

Workers in the low-wage sector are also particularly at risk of contracting COVID-19 due in part to job insecurity and cramped living conditions. At the same time, these workers also suffer disproportionately from pandemic-related job and income loss. The high number of workers in atypical jobs is also a major reason for the rise in poverty among retirees.

At the same time, wealth is increasingly concentrated at the top of society. The richest 1 percent of the population owns as much as the poorest 75 percent. While wealth at the top has

grown enormously via the multi-billion coronavirus programs of the European Central Bank and the federal government, there is supposedly no money for the working class and the poor. On the contrary, the money that has been poured down the throats of the rich is to be squeezed out of workers through increased exploitation.

One indicator of the obscene wealth at the top is the recent Wealth-X report, which says that the global pandemic has led to an unprecedented accumulation of wealth among the most privileged strata of society.

The global number of dollar billionaires rose above 3,000 for the first time in 2020. Their average wealth is $1.9 billion, and their total wealth is $10 trillion, an increase of 5.7 percent since 2019.

“Taken as a whole, the global pandemic has delivered an unexpected windfall to billionaire wealth, amplified by the flood of financial incentives and swelling profits in key sectors of the economy that has spawned a new wave of younger, self-made billionaires,” the report says.

First place in the country chart for billionaires is the US, followed

by China in second place and Germany in third. In Germany, the number of billionaires increased by 13.7 percent to 174 during the 2020 pandemic year, and their total wealth grew to $515 billion.

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As rich nations waste doses, most African countries miss 10% vaccination goal

By Jake Johnson More than two-thirds of Africa’s 54 countries were denied the ability to vaccinate at least 10% of their populations against Covid-19 by September’s end—a modest World Health Organization target—as rich nations continue to hoard doses and shield the pharmaceutical industry’s monopoly control over production.

According to the WHO’s Regional Office

for Africa, just 15 of the continent’s countries reached the 10% vaccination goal.

Half of the 52 African nations that have received coronavirus vaccines have fully inoculated 2% or less of their populations, the WHO said Thursday.

Dr. Richard Mihigo, Immunization and Vaccines Development Program coordinator for the WHO’s Africa office, said in a statement that “the latest data shows modest gains but there is still a long way

to go to reach the WHO target of fully vaccinating 40% of the population by the end of the year.”

While donation shipments to the continent are steadily increasing, Mihigo added, “opaque delivery plans are still the number one nuisance that hold Africa back.” The WHO warned last week that vaccine shipments to Africa will need to increase seven-fold—from roughly 20 million doses per month to 150 million per month, on average—for the continent to vaccinate 70% of its population by September 2022.

At present, just 4% of Africa’s population is fully vaccinated.

“This is about life and death for potentially millions of Africans, so there is no time to waste in getting these shipments moving,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s Regional Director for Africa. “Actions speak far louder than words, and African countries need clear delivery dates so they can plan properly.”

Experts and public health campaigners have attributed Africa’s struggle to vaccinate even a small fraction of its 1.3 billion-strong population to decision-making by rich countries, which have bought up and clung to much of the global vaccine supply while resisting technology transfer initiatives and other efforts to ramp up pro-

duction.

While the U.S. and other wealthy nations have added to their donation pledges of late, analysts say the promises still amount to “trickles of charity” that won’t put much of a dent in global inequities— let alone end the pandemic.

The ONE Campaign, a global anti-poverty group, estimates that G7 countries will soon be sitting on enough excess doses of the coronavirus vaccine to provide a shot to every adult in Africa. A recent analysis by Airfinity found that G7 nations are set to waste 100 million vaccine doses by the end of 2021 and up to 800 million by mid-2022.

“This pandemic will only be over when it is over for everyone everywhere, which means it is in the self-interest of every nation and every person that the available vaccines are shared equitably, so that we can exit the pandemic and get our lives back to normal,” Howard Catton, chief executive officer of the International Coalition of Nurses, said in a statement Thursday.

“The situation in Africa should be a red flag for the rest of the world,” Catton added. “We have recently seen a billionaire take a healthcare worker on a journey into space. But back here on planet Earth we have millions of nurses waiting for a vaccine... They should be prioritized, and it should be as of right that they receive that vaccine.”

Over 20 newly extinct species in US offer ‘sobering reminder' of humanity's wreckage

By Andrea Germanos Twenty-three species should be declared extinct, U.S. officials said a fate that conservation advocates warn could await hundreds of other species barring immediate efforts to protect them.

“If we do nothing to address climate change and the growing biodiversity crisis,” tweeted the National Audubon Society, “today’s announcement will pale in comparison to the future we face.”

Among those that should be considered

gone forever, according to the proposal from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, are the ivory-billed woodpecker—a casualty of logging; the San Marcos gambusia—a small fish powerless in the face of water depletion; and Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis—a flowering plant in the mint family whose existence proved no match for habitat degradation and invasive species.

“Each of these 23 species represents a permanent loss to our nation’s natural heritage and to global biodiversity,” Bridget

Fahey, who oversees species classification for the Fish and Wildlife Service, told the New York Times. “And it’s a sobering reminder that extinction is a consequence of human-caused environmental change.”

Though the specific factors driving the disappearances varied, “in each case,” the Associated Press reported, “humans were the ultimate cause.”

In addition, AP added, all 23 were thought to have at least a slim chance of survival when added to the endangered species list beginning in the 1960s. Only 11 species previously have been removed due to extinction in the almost half-century since the Endangered Species Act was signed into law.

“The Endangered Species Act has prevented the extinction of 99% of the plants and animals under its care, but sadly these species were extinct or nearly gone when they were listed,” said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement.

“The tragedy will be magnified,” she continued, “if we don’t keep this from happening again by fully funding species protection and recovery efforts that move quickly.” Curry’s organization pointed to a 2016 study finding an average delay of

12 years for species awaiting ESA safeguards.

“Delay equals death for vulnerable wildlife,” she said.

The species FWS proposed for the delisting from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants because of extinction also include the Bachman’s warbler and eight Hawaiian birds including Kauai Akialoa. Also on the list: the Little Mariana fruit bat previously found on Guam; Scioto madtom, a catfish that used to call the Big Darby Creek in Ohio home; and eight freshwater mussels including the flat pigtoe.

According to Curry, “a lack of urgency” is putting hundreds of additional species at risk for total loss.

“The Endangered Species Act is the most powerful tool we have to end extinction, but the sad reality is that listing still comes too late for most species,” said Curry, urging reform of the FWS process for protecting species.

“Extinction is not inevitable. It is a political choice,” she said. “As a country, we need to stand up and say we aren’t going to lose any more species to extinction.”

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Combat - April- June 2021

NPC workers picket over Management’s disrespectful attitude

Several workers attached to the National Parks Commission, along with officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), on August 30, 2021 staged a picketing exercise outside of the office of the National Parks Commission (NPC) located at the National Park. This morning’s picketing was in response to the disrespect of the Commission’s Management to the Union. The GAWU last week, through its Field Officer, sought a meeting with the Commission to discuss certain matters. Though such meetings are provided for within the context of the Recognition and Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement between the GAWU and the NPC, the Commission bluntly refused to engage the Union’s officer.

The GAWU maintains that both parties must respect fully, and abide with, the relevant clauses of the agreement. Moreover, it is the first time that the Union has encountered such attitude from the NPC, and was taken aback by the swift refusal to engage the GAWU, which has shared generally cordial relations with the Commission.

Another major bone of contention revolves around the departure from engagements between the Union’s Branch and the Commission’s Management. For several years now, the Branch, following its monthly meeting, would engage the Commission The meeting allowed for an exchange of information between the workers/union and the management, and helped to improve the relations while encouraging collaboration. Following the July 2021 Branch meeting, the Union, as has been the norm, wrote the

Management seeking a meeting to be convened to facilitate the usual discussions. Through its letter, the Branch was seeking to engage the Management regarding twelve (12) matters. The Union’s letter was greeted with an eerie silence from the Commission. The GAWU, by letter of August 05, 2021, reminded the Commission of the request to meet. To date, our letter has not benefitted from the dignity of an acknowledgement.

The workers also expressed serious concerns regarding the quality of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) being provided to workers. Through the Collective Labour Agreement, the Management is required to provide certain PPEs to workers. However, in recent times, the quality of those PPEs has declined. The workers lamented that defective PPEs are inhibiting them from completing their tasks in a safe manner. Additionally, the quality puts them at risk. This represents a serious breach of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Responsibly, the Branch had sought to discuss same with the Management, but the good intentions have been a victim of the Management’s seeming policy to ignore the workers and their Union.

We nonetheless are hopeful that better sense could prevail, and the Management could revert to the practices which lent to good worker/management relations.

For its part, the GAWU remains willing and ready to work collaboratively with the Management of the NPC in a respectful and dignified manner in the advancement of the Commission.

GAWU engages Labour Minister on exploitative practices of oil and gas enterprises

The GAWU, on August 18, 2021, engaged Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, and other officials of the Ministry of Labour regarding the disregard of workers rights by several enterprises in the oil and gas sector. Workers in the sector have regularly reached out to the Union. Our engagements have revealed a common thread of worker exploitation across enterprises, with many workers rights simply being ignored or completely disregarded by the foreign and local bosses and their agents.

The GAWU drew to the Min-

ister’s attention that workers are denied overtime p a y ments or days off.

These conditions we pointed out were statutorily enshrined, yet it appeared that the enterprises operated with impunity. We contended that, as a responsible Union we were duty bound to speak on behalf of the oppressed workers, who are threatened with termination and other forms of intimidation. Our Union lamented, too, the naked discrimination where foreigners are rewarded much more richly than locals though undertaking the same tasks. This, we noted, is simply disrespectful to our hardworking Guyanese men and women.

Illustrating a practical exam-

ple, we related that our Union recently wrote a well-known firm in the sector regarding their disregard for workers’ contractual obligations. We shared that the company, which recently touted its multi-billion-dollar expansion plans, has not even greeted our correspondence with an acknowledgement. In the circumstances, we sought the Ministry’s intervention to ensure that the workers, who have already suffered greatly, not be cheated by the well-endowed enterprise.

Minister Hamilton thanked the GAWU for its forthright submission. He said that the Ministry was aware of similar situations and was committed to ensuring that no worker’s right is violated by local or foreign enterprises. He shared that the Ministry, through the Chief Labour Officer, will invite the enterprise in an effort to ensure that the workers’ rights are upheld. The Labour Minister assured that the workers have an ally in him and the Ministry, and committed to working collaboratively with GAWU and other Unions to ensure that workers are protected.

FITUG welcomes efforts to ease cost-of-living burdens

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) recognizes and welcomes the announcement by His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali for duty and tax assessments to be computed based on pre-pandemic shipping charges in an effort to reduce the cost-of-living. The Federation is very much aware that the cost of many important and essential commodities has risen markedly over the past few months. We recognize that, to some extent, those increas-

es are linked to events outside of Guyana, more particularly regarding freight costs. At the same time, it is not lost on us that some businesses have sought to profiteer from the situation. Such unscrupulousness and we daresay fleecing of our hard-working and unwitting Guyanese should not be countenanced, more so given the challenges of our contemporary times.

We recognize that through the decision of the Government, nearly $5B in revenues will be foregone. Expectedly such savings are intended to, and should, benefit the Guyanese people, who certainly require the reliefs granted by the Administration. Indeed, we expect, within the coming days and weeks, to see some of the mounting prices beginning their decline and workers’ wages/

salaries going a bit further. Undoubtedly, such expectations we do not believe are farfetched or outlandish.

The Federation also looks, in the coming weeks, to a continued monitoring of the situation to ensure that workers and all Guyanese are benefitting from the Government’s initiatives.

The FITUG believes, too, that some examination of the fuel prices should be done to further reduce the cost-of-living. We urge too that other, more direct measures be considered in an effort to offer further reliefs to our beleaguered working people and their families. We recognize the President’s recent announcement of pay rises to all public employees, and, to this end, we urge that positive consideration be given to the long outstanding increase in the national minimum wage. We believe it will go a long way to assist our hard-pressed workers.

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FITUG welcomes President’s announcement to assist vulnerable Guyanese - reiterates call for adjustment in National Minimum Wage The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) recognizes and welcomes the announcement by His Excellency President Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali in advancing assisance to vulnerable Guyanese. The decision to provide old-age pensioners, public assistance and disability recipients a grant of $25,000 as well as covering the cost of electricity for citizens consuming 75 kilowatts of electricity will undoubtedly go a far way in alleviating some of the challenges poorer Guyanese confront at this time. We learnt from the President that the announced initiatives will put some $2.6B in the pockets of ordinary Guyanese.

The latest announcement comes on the heels of reducing freight assessment charges, which we were told will cost the Government some $4.5B. Thus, in the space of a few days, the Government, through the two (2) initiatives, have released some $7.1B into the hands of Guyanese.

Of course, those initiatives cannot be disconnected from other measures in recent times. We have seen the restoration and increase of the public school and uniform grant; the increases in

old age pension and public assistance, as well as the reversal of several anti-people measures imposed on ordinary Guyanese by the former Coalition Government. We noted following the President’s announcement, some of the usual suspects offering their criticisms. While we recognize and respect their right to their views, at the same time, we measure their now utterances with their actions when they occupied more powerful posts in the land. Indeed, it is quite revealing that some who sought to impose hardship and burdens are now decrying efforts to uplift the well-being of Guyanese.

The Federation, at this time, looks forward to further reliefs being granted to our working people.

We urge positive consideration of extending the electricity subsidy to all Guyanese irrespective of their consumption. The FITUG also seeks that the Government assess the excise taxes levied on fuel with a view to reducing the rising cost. This, we noted, the Minister of Finance recently indicated was attracting Government’s attention. Moreover, we suggest the extension of the school child grant to private

school pupils. We are aware of many poorer families seeking private education for their children and undoubtedly the grant would certainly help to ease their woes.

This too we have seen Government indicating is in their thoughts.

We, however, believe a more lasting and appropriate measure would be the approval of the outstanding hike in the national minimum wage to $60,000 per month. We recognize that the nonimplementation stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the business sector.

Though we are aware that the pandemic is still with us, we cannot ignore media reports adverting to the healthy returns enjoyed by many enterprises. We noted, too, the plans by many businesses to expand their operations.

For us, it indicates that the business environment has and is improving. In such circumstances, there is a clear need to ensure that our workers who contribute to those successes are rewarded appropriately. It is in this regard that we urge the Government to move with alacrity in adjusting the national minimum wage.

Lincoln Lewis mistaken again!

The GAWU’s attention was drawn to Mr Lincoln Lewis’s column of July 25, 2021 which appeared in the Village Voice newspaper. The columnist address several issues, however, we find it necessary to speak to Mr Lewis’s allegation of monies from the Consolidated Fund used to support the pension fund of sugar workers. We wish to advise the columnist that it appears he was misinformed, as there is no instance, to the best of our knowledge, where state funds were using Mr Lewis’s words, ‘injected’ into the sugar workers’ pension funds.

In a nutshell, the sugar industry has two (2) pension funds.

There is a contributory pension scheme for salaried staffers and an ex-gratia scheme for waged staffers. In the instance

of the ex-gratia scheme, workers receive a pension based on their earnings and years of service, whereas in the contributory scheme, those workers pensions are related to the sum of their contributions. Our Union has, for several years, been seeking to have all workers become members of the contributory scheme, recognizing the obvious advantages. The Corporation has thus far not agreed to our request.

In both instances, the pension funds, according to the Corporation’s financial statements, are underfunded. Certainly, had monies been injected, as is alleged, the deficit may not have existed. In fact, the Coalition has trumpeted the pension scheme deficit as a rationale to minimize the industry. Even though our Union and others have contend-

ed that the realizability of the deficit appeared very slim.

The GAWU remains perplexed

by Mr Lewis’s continued misinformed attacks on the sugar industry, the sugar workers, and the benefits they won out of their struggles. It appears to us that the innuendos advanced are nothing more than an effort to stoke divisive flames among our workers and people. This is not a healthy development, and such attempts coming from a seasoned trade unionist are more worrisome. The trade union movement is built on solidarity, and to this end, our Union reiterates again our solidarity with the bauxite workers in their ongoing struggles to be treated with respect and dignity, as all workers similarly aim.

Burma Rice Station workers stage picketing exercise

Workers of the Burma Rice Research Station on August 10, 2021 staged a picketing exercise outside of the Station to register their serious concerns regarding the attitude of one of their managers. The workers, following the recognition of GAWU earlier this year, have been bitterly complaining of the attitude of the manager. They have shared that the manager, at times, has been most haughty to the workers. According to them, the manager, on some occasions, would speak to them in an abusive fashion which appeared to them to be threatening. The workers held that should the manager have a difficulty with them or their work, such interactions could be done in a respectful and civil manner and there was no need for boisterousness.

The GAWU having learnt of the complaints, drew it to the attention of the Station’s Management.

Our Union registered our serious concern noting that there was no need for such conduct. We held that the attitude displayed could lend to antagonistic relations which were not in the workers nor the Station’s interest. The Union urged the Station that the manager be spoken to about his conduct as we feared the situation could escalate. Following the Union’s intervention, the Station

informed that it had spoken to the manager about his conduct and that should difficulties arise these could be addressed by the senior management to avoid deteriorating relations between the workers and the management.

Despite this undertaking and efforts to turn a new leaf, reports surfaced that the manager’s conduct had not changed. The situation escalated last week after the manager withheld, payments from workers alleging, they had not completed their tasks. The workers affected related they were never told that their wages would be withheld nor were they given the opportunity to even offer an explanation. They only learnt of the manager’s decision when they went to uplift their wages last weekend. Our Union, having learnt of the issue, immediately intervened, and we learnt that an investigation was launched. Apart from that, the continued attitude of the manager has deeply upset the workers, prompting them to stage a picketing exercise recently. We are hopeful that better sense can prevail and the workers and the management can be able to work together in a respectful and dignified manner in the advancement of the Station.

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Combat - April- June 2021

After a 26-year wait Shameer Matthews finally receives his NIS pension

Minister Dr Ashni Singh presenting Matthews with his NIS Old Age pension book The GAWU was pleased that, after years of representation, now 86-year-old Shammer Matthews was finally able to receive his duly deserved NIS Old Age Pension.

During the 52nd anniversary observances of the Scheme, held on September 29, 2021, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, presented to Matthews his pension book which will provide him a monthly pension as well as payments outstanding to him since he attained aged sixty (60).

matter to then Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence. Matthews, again with GAWU’s assistance, wrote the former Minister but did not receive a response.

Subsequently, he again wrote Mr Granger, who referred to matter to Minister Amna Ally, who had then taken up the post as Social Protection Minister. Minister Ally responded to articulate that his matter could not be addressed in the absence of the NIS Commissioner, which she had shared was receiving the attention of the then Coalition Government.

Matthews had approached the GAWU in 2016 seeking the Union’s assistance for him to obtain a pension. The NIS refused to grant him a pension after it alleged that the contributions that qualified him were received after he attained aged sixty. The GAWU contended that the NIS, having collected Matthews’ contributions, was required to honour them and to award him a pension. Our representation did not find favour with the past General Manager and the Board of Directors of the NIS. Subsequently, Matthews, with the assistance of GAWU, had written former President David Granger seeking his intervention.

The former President’s intervention was sought in the absence of a NIS Commissioner, who would usually be tasked with such responsibilities. A Commissioner has been absent for several years now, and the GAWU surmised that in the absence, the President had a responsibility.

The former President, in responding to Matthews, shared he had referred the

Following a decision by the NIS to conduct outreaches in several parts of the country, the GAWU arranged for him to meet with Minister Singh at the recently held Mon Repos activity. At the outreach, Matthews engaged the Minister, explaining his plight. The Minister, so moved by this incident, referred the matter to the NIS Board of Directors, which after considering the facts approved an Old Age Pension for Matthews.

The GAWU recognises that the story of Matthews is not an isolated event. Indeed, we are currently representing many workers to the NIS regarding incorrect contributions, denial of pension, or incorrect rate of pensions. Certainly, all contributors have a fair expectation that, after their years of hard work, they receive their due reward. It is in this regard, that the Union, as one of its several benefits, offers to its members representation to the NIS, recognizing the travails many Guyanese face.

Mr Ramjattan has problems with the truth The July 31, 2021 Kaieteur News reported AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan as saying, among other things, the non-expenditure of the $400M allocated to GuySuCo for mechanization was as a result of the GAWU’s seeking to ascertain how many workers would be affected by the programme. It appears to us Mr Ramjattan is a stranger to the truth, or maybe it was he was grossly misinformed. For the sake of clarity, the Union, at no time, was ever consulted by GuySuCo and/or the then Coalition Government on the programme. The Union was not even aware that the programme was to be pursued until we learnt of it in the media recently. We therefore ask would it be even possible for our Union to request the information Mr Ramjattan purported we sought?

Our Union, for the record, has not been averse to mechanization in the sugar industry. We, in fact, engaged the lending institution during latter 2014 when the programme was con-

ceptualized. Moreover, in advancing our position against closure, we again, pointed to the real opportunities’ mechanization offered. Therefore, we would have been more than foolhardy to seek the information it is said we requested. Our support for mechanization is premised against several rationales, including lessening the arduousness of work in the sugar industry while improving efficiency. We were aware too that the programme had no impact on labour, but rather augmented the workforce.

The statements by Mr Ramjattan are symptomatic of an individual who has problems with the truth. This is not the first time the GAWU has had to publicly point out what seems to be deceitful statement emanating from the AFC leader. Of course, the erstwhile gentleman has shown he is no friend of the sugar workers or the industry, therefore to expect any semblance of honesty as it concerns sugar probably is highly improbable.

GAWU concerned about workers at Guyana Manganese Inc

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), through its outreach activities, was contacted by workers employed by the Guyana Manganese Inc (GMI). The workers reached out to GAWU to express their dismay over what they described as their abominable conditions-of-work.

Our Union has learnt from the workers, that it appeared that the GMI was actively sidelining them in favour of foreigners. They shared that many tasks being undertaken by foreigners could be done by locals but inexplicably they are denied such opportunities. They felt that it seemed the company was seeking for them to leave the employ. Additionally, the workers lamented the housing conditions and provision of meals for those who resided outside of the community.

They pointed out that the foreigners enjoyed adequate housing and appropriate meals. Whereas in their case the situa-

tion left a lot to be desired.

Apart from that the workers were upset by the attitude and demeanour of particular supervisors who treated them disdainfully. Moreover, they related that skilled employees were being asked to undertake tasks well below their skillset. They said they found this demeaning especially considering extensive training they would have undergone. Workers indicated too that they have learnt that their statutory deductions were not being paid over to the relevant agencies. Moreover, we have learnt that other commitments to the workers and the community prior to the company’s establishment have simply been ignored.

The GAWU is disturbed by the treatment of the workers and the community.

Our Union reiterates that all firms must respect workers rights and treat them with dignity. It is simply unbelievable that firms are seeking to benefit from our natural wealth yet fail to uphold even the basic rights of our workers and people. Our Union stands with the workers, and is prepared to continue to champion their call for their rights to be upheld and for them to enjoy decent work. We encourage GMI workers to continue to engage us in order for us to better understand their plight and be able to highlight the difficulties they are facing.

Combat - April- June 2021

GAWU representation sees GFC workers’ rights respected Arising from the intervention of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), three (3) employees of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) who were terminated on June 30, 2021 are to uplift from the Commission payments representing their terminal benefits, notice pay, annual leave entitlements, leave passage allowance and travelling allowance.

Our Union having learnt of the workers’ matter, invited them to meet with the GAWU. Following an extensive engagement, where the workers related what transpired, with the Union offered its advice and suggestions, the workers decided they wished to receive their outstanding benefits. As a result, the GAWU wrote the Commission by letter of July 07, 2021, demanding the workers’ rights be respected and that they receive all benefits due to them.

The GFC agreed with the GAWU representation and thereafter shared the computations with

the Union. Following receipt of the calculations, the GAWU engaged the workers to examine collectively their respective computations. An omission was recognised, and this was drawn to the Commission’s attention which it undertook to correct the calculation. Having cleared the obstacles, the Commission has prepared the workers’ payments for them to uplift.

The workers have expressed their sincere appreciation to the GAWU, as they have recognised the importance of the Union in protecting their rights at the workplace. They believed that were not for the involvement of the GAWU, they may have faced greater difficulty, considering they were not sure of their rights. Our Union, for its part, is heartened that the workers’ rights were upheld, and the matter was resolved amicably and within a short period. The GAWU remains convinced that only through well-organized Unions will workers have their rights respected.

Page 11

Cane cutter attendance a significant achievement!

The GAWU welcomes Mr Jonathan Yearwood’s letter titled “To what extent are GuySuCo and GAWU cooperating in order to turn around the industry?” appearing in the July 13, 2021 Kaieteur News. Indeed, like Mr Yearwood, the GAWU was heartened to learn that the industry netted $734M more than anticipated though realizing 70% of its anticipated production. It demonstrates that the GAWU is correct, and the sugar industry has every potential to turnaround and become viable.

Certainly, we believe, with other ventures we have referred to in the past, even greater rewards could be reaped.

Mr Yearwood questions whether our Union is supportive of the reality that around 70% of cane cutters are availing themselves to work daily. Maybe it is that the letter writer is not familiar with the sugar industry, but the turnout statistic described is a significant achievement. Mr Yearwood will well know that

cane cutting is a laborious task and one that extracts a significant toll on cutters. Certainly, it is difficult, given the hardships of the task, for all the workers to be present every single day. Cane cutters may wish they could be present at work daily, especially given they do not obtain yearround employment, but at the same time, they are not by any means superhuman. While with the advent of mechanical loaders the workers’ onerousness has lessened and productivity increased, it remains a challenge for them to wake up in the wee morning hours, travel several miles into the cultivation, and cut and load several tonnes of cane day after day. The fact that cane cutters can regularly accomplish such feats is testimony to their commitment and sheer strength and will.

The letter writer urges the GAWU to encourage more workers to turnout daily. As a responsible organization, we do advise sugar workers to avail themselves at

work. But while calls are heightened for workers to present themselves during the cropping periods daily, during the offcrop periods, the workers are confined to four days’ work per week, sometimes with tasks that are taxing and which they are unable to complete within their allotted work time. The point we wish to make is there must be some equity when speaking about workers attendance to work. Maybe the Corporation with its strategy can seek to address workers pay which sees some of them earning just a bit over $2200 per day. Certainly, any worthwhile improvement can play a meaningful role.

Finally, we agree with Mr Yearwood that the target is attainable. If you ask us, given the industry’s potential, it is low, but we recognize too where the industry is coming from. While the workers will seek to play their role, it requires several other factors to align as well.

Workers have a right to join a Union!

Labour atrocities being committed against oil sector workers

The GAWU Oil and Gas branch, through its public statements, outreaches and social media activities, has continued to engage regularly with workers employed by several enterprises in the sector. The workers, though employed by different companies, face almost identical challenges and confront harsh measures and draconian policies. It jarred our minds back to era of the sugar plantocracy, where workers were seen as expendable commodities. For the GAWU, this is a worrisome development and portends that possibly even more unfair conditions could be advanced in the future. It reminds us of the age-old adage that not all that glitters is really gold.

The Union recently engaged

workers who were terminated by a well-known enterprise in the sector. Our review of the documents shared revealed to us even when they were unceremoniously shown the door seemingly attempts were made to cheat them out of their due entitlements. The GAWU has since written that entity to seek that the workers’ rights be respected and that their entitlements are properly settled. Indeed, it was disheartening enough for workers to receive the axe apparently for expressing concerns regarding their conditions of work. But it is rubbing salt in the wound to apparently shortchange them on their benefits.

We were also disturbed and astonished to recognise an enterprise telling workers on confirmation they received an increase in pay. The truth is that the workers’ basic pay declined, though the company may argue a non-tax-

able allowance was added to their salary. Be that as it may, the workers’ basic pay went down, and that is undeniable. Our Union holds that the altering of employment terms cannot be done at someone’s whims and fancies.

Though workers may sign on receipt of their confirmation letters, we believe it is unholy for such sneaky measures be pursued to reduce an employee’s salary. Moreover, in the absence of proper review we do not believe that attempt to reduce an employee’s basic pay could stand.

Many workers have expressed feelings of being cheated. They shared on their recruitment they were regaled with stories of significant earnings, high quality jobs and good job prospects.

They were told that big opportunities awaited them in the sector, and they could have meaningfully improved their well-being and lives. With such succulent talk, the workers said they were wooed, and without hesitation took up training opportunities with the hope of making a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. Their high enthusiasm caused them to sign their contract without so much as a

second glance. Alas, the talk, grand promises of flowing milk and honey, gave way to reality.

This, they said, was a cold and rude awakening. It is reminiscent of the days of the indentured servants being told to come and fan sugar canes in British Guiana.

The workers pointed out that while their salaries appear appropriate, it is hardly compensatory for the lengthy hours of work they must endure. They were very disturbed that foreigners appeared to be getting significantly enhanced conditions compared to them, though they undertake similar jobs. The workers said the pretext of foreigners’ experience hold little water for them. They pointed out that they can execute certain tasks as well as foreigners, yet they are denied equal pay. The sector’s employees we have engaged said they are puzzled as to why is it they cannot be treated more fairly. The workers could not help but wonder whether it is that the owners were out to make super profits off their efforts and sweat. The GAWU has heard unofficially that many enterprises are handsomely paid for the service they provide. Yet rather than sharing some of the

bounty with their employees they apparently choose to enjoy the niceties of life while throwing a few crumbs to the workers.

The situation the oil sector workers in our country face is not new.

It has happened before in the sugar industry, when the owner class, together with local collaborators, denied workers a fair and just reward for their labour. It was a harsh period for the workers, and profound change was only realised when the workers stood together to demand and win real and lasting change. Certainly, in the oil sector, the workers’ collectivism is important if they are to win out in their just demands.

The GAWU remains in the corner of all workers. Previous and present generations of workers have struggled long and hard to overcome obstacles. Certainly, such feats are realizable once again.

We encourage workers to continue to reach out to the Union. The GAWU believes its considerable experience in championing workers’ rights is very much needed, and we remain committed to advancing the rights and conditions of the Guyanese working-class.

Guyanese oil workers receiving ten times lesser pay than their Trinidadian counterparts GAWU and OWTU advancing collaboration an unequivocal message to the larger workforce. Such actions are highly detestable and are a fundamental violation of workers’ rights.

In recent weeks, we have been studying the corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies of several foreign enterprises operating in the sector. Those policies which speak to a broad range of human rights, environmental, financial proprieties, among other things have largely endorsed the ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work. A chief principle regards the freedom of as-

The GAWU’s Oil and Gas branch, in recent weeks, has been in contact with its fraternal union the Oil Workers Trade Union (OWTU) of Trinidad and Tobago. The OWTU is recognised as one of the foremost unions in our Caribbean neighbour, and, over the years, has grown to speak on behalf of workers in that country’s oil and gas sector, removing exploitative practices as it brought improved working conditions and benefits to its membership. The GAWU and the OWTU relations date back several decades, and have been grounded in the principles of worker solidarity and both unions commitment to uplifting the working-class in our respective countries.

Just a few weeks ago, the GAWU drew to the public’s attention that workers in the oil and gas sector locally were earning pay rates equivalent to the national minimum wage. We bemoaned the situation, pointing out that presently, the lowest earning wage in the public sector was $403 per hour as against $255 per hour in the oil sector. We pointed out, too, those workers were in receipt of allowances which had no scientific reasoning and could be withdrawn at any time.

The practice, we surmised was an attempt to subjugate workers. We also have spoken too about the absence of overtime payments to certain workers. We pointed out that at one enterprise workers were entitled to payment

for 4,000 hours per annum but receiving less than 3,000 hours pay. This we considered highway robbery and a clearly exploitative practice to cheat the workers out of their due reward.

Recent engagements between our two unions have revealed the stark disparities in rates-ofpay and conditions-of-work between Guyanese and unionised Trinidadian workers in the sector.

For instance, in nearly all occupations, Trinidadian unionized workers obtained vastly superior pay rates. For instance, we noted jobs such as rigmen, electricians, operators, mechanics, and other artisans receiving ten (10) times more pay than their Guyanese counterparts. For some other jobs, the disparity was even greater. Additionally, the OWTU informed us apart from pay, workers in the sector enjoy several allowances such as On Call Duty, Overtime, Subsistence Allowance, Overtime Meal Allowance, Disturbance Allowance, Travelling Allowance, Offshore Allowance, Working Out of Base, Travelling Time , Re-Scheduling of Established Working Day, among others, Additionally, our Caribbean counterparts benefit from Deferred Compensation Plan, Savings Allowance, Vacation Travel Grant Plan, Housing Aid Plan, Pension Plan, Employees Medical Plan, and Employees Benefit Plan. It demonstrates that for workers to get what they rightly deserve they need to be

organized.

For the GAWU, the information was quite revealing. In our conversations with the OWTU, we recognised that several of the benefits negotiated by that Union has been won by GAWU where our Union enjoys bargaining rights. We believe that in a sector which is responsible for a significant economic contribution, the workers who produce its wealth must be properly compensated for their efforts rather than having the real wealth creamed off at the top. The GAWU, for the record, is not averse to enterprises in the sector. We wish to see those enterprises succeed and become profitable. We nonetheless believe that the success of an enterprise cannot be delinked from its workers whose hard work and efforts are sources of the success.

Our recent work in educating workers in the sector of their rights has also been quite revealing. In many enterprises, workers have expressed a strong willingness to become organized. Many have shared the view that being organized will allow them to be treated in a fairer and dignified manner. Though workers recognise that reality, they also expressed apprehensions. They have told the GAWU that their employers have forbidden them from being unionized. They shared that even a hint of discontent among the workforce sees workers who speak up being sent home. This they held was intent on sending

sociation and the right to collective bargaining. These principles have also been translated into freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana as well as the Trade Union Recognition Act. In the coming weeks, the GAWU and the OWTU will seek to further our cooperation as we jointly seek to strengthen the hand of the Guyanese workers in the oil and gas sector. We welcome the support of the OWTU and together with the GAWU seek to bring an end to the exploitative practices that Guyanese workers confront in the sector.

FITUG wants to engage Government on free zones The September 06, 2021 Stabroek News reported that His Excellency President Irfaan Ali in an engagement with the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) indicated that his Government was developing legislation regarding the establishment of free zones.

Previously, Go-Invest head, Dr Peter Ramsaroop had indicated that free zones were being developed to heighten economic growth. Since coming into office, the Government has taken several fiscal measures to reduce business sector taxation. Those new measures added to a long list of measures that were already in place. It appears that the establishment of free zones represents a further expansion of such policies.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has recently written the President seeking an engagement with his government regarding the establishment of free zones in Guyana.

Free zones by their very name indicate that legislative measures are largely subdued if not absent. Several studies have attested that worker employed in free zones are very much exploited and having nearly zero rights. In several parts of the world, such shortcomings have seen near

slavery like practices perpetuated where workers rights and conditions pale in comparison to workers outside of the free zone.

We have recognised arguments that workers in free zones, in some instances, enjoyed better pay. But we contend, like several studies, that improved pay is hardly sufficient when workers are exposed to risky work environments, hazardous practices and an absence of justice and fairness.

We do not believe that President Ali and his Government have such intentions. The President on several occasions has professed his love and care for the Guyanese people. We nonetheless believe as the Government, at this time, is advancing consideration of such legislation that our views be taken on board. We have seen President Ali regularly engaging members of the business community and we certainly believe he is also eager to listen to the workers representatives as well. It is the FITUG’s view that development must not come at the expense of our rights attained through hard won struggles and battles. Rather development should consolidate and advance those rights to ensure that all Guyanese live a dignified life.

Combat is a publication of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) 59 High Street and Wights Lane, Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana Tel: (592) 227-2091/2, 225-5321, 223-6523 Email: info@gawugy.com Website: www.gawugy.com