GuySuCo’s 5% wage increase offer is not across the board- GAWU

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in a statement on Monday explained that the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) offer of a 5% wage increase does not cover all workers.

The Union deemed a statement from the company insinuating same as “misleading and mischievous.”

GAWU in response to a statement issued by the state—owned company said GuySuCo has only offered a 5% pay rise for workers engaged in piece-rated activities.

For those engaged in time-rated work, GAWU said the Corporation proposed a $20 increase for those at the Band One level and $18 for those who are in Bands Two to Five. According to GAWU, those increases range between 4.1 to 7.84 per cent.

The two sides met on February 7 and again on February 12 to discuss the wage increase.

Apart from that, the Corporation has proposed that a $4,000 per month increase for monthly-paid employees, which is equivalent to a 3.9 per cent increase at the minimum level for foremen and 4.62 per cent for charge hands.

The Corporation wishes to implement the new increases from January 01, this year but the Union is asking for the sum to be retroactive to January 01, 2019.

“Such stance is taken against the background that the Union and the Corporation discussions regarded the GAWU’s claims for 2019 and thus any increase ought to be implemented from the beginning of that year,” GAWU said.

Also, the union is seeking to increase the offer for those workers receiving a 4.1 per cent increase to 5 per cent.

“The GAWU, after consulting workers, has put to the Corporation that no worker receives less than a 5 per cent pay increase,” GAWU said in its statement.

The workers on February 4 protested the Ministry of the Presidency calling for an increase in salaries since they have not been given an increase since 2015.