GAWU calls for quick court hearing of Wales severance case

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) is calling for the High Court to urgently deal with the injunction it filed against the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) so that sacked sugar workers of the Wales Estate on the West Bank of Demerara can receive their severance.

Scores of former Wales’ sugar workers and their families staged another major protest outside of the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) on Wednesday for their severance to be paid.

An estimated 350 workers have not received their severance even though the estate at Wales was closed since 2016. Reports are that the workers were offered employment at the Uitvlugt Estate in place of their severance but some refused because of how far away it was located.

GAWU President Komal Chand contended that the workers rightfully refused.

According to the workers’ union, the demand to work at Uitvlugt was contrary to the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act.

“Once your job is over 10 miles, you have a legal right to receive your severance,” Chand explained, noting that Uitvlugt is located more than 20 miles away from the workers’ original place of employment in Wales.

As such, GAWU secured an injunction in May 2016, stopping GuySuCo from terminating the employment of workers of the Wales Estate.

The Corporation subsequently contended that the injunction is blocking them from paying the severance but GAWU argued otherwise.

Given the deadlock, the GAWU President is pleading with the courts to treat the matter with priority so that the workers can be paid.

“You cannot ring the hands of the judiciary, they are a separate arm and we are appealing to them, if you are in the cue, you should give this matter priority. There are matters that got priority in the past…because of what is at stake,” Chand urged.

The GAWU President said its lawyers assured that it is a “black and white” matter, not a case of interpretation of the law.

“This is a case of just applying the law,” Chand stated.

The Union Head had proposed that GAWU is willing to drop the matter in the court once GuySuCo agrees to pay the workers their severance instead of forcing them to work at Uitvlugt.

The GAWU President said the union intends to continue picketing exercises until the Wales Workers receive their severance.