A large number of cane cutters from Skeldon Estate earlier today (Friday) staged a picketing exercise outside of the estate’s Administrative Office as a result of them being overworked and not adequately compensated.
According to information received from the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), “the workers advised that they are required to exert significant additional effort to cut canes which are vine-infested”.
The Union noted that their attempts to seek an “amicable solution to the dispute are being rebuffed by the Management” of the Estate.
Furthermore, it was explained that the workers were also informed by the Skeldon management that they must also cut all the canes they are assigned before they could receive their extra payments.
The workers pointed out that it is constant that “their extra payments are pro-rated, relative to the quantum of the task they completed”. This, they related was not discussed with them prior to the announcement by management. As such, the workers have publicly condemned the high-handed approach taken by the Estate’s management.
Meanwhile, GAWU has indicated that they are seeking to have an engagement with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) at the central level.
An attempt to get a comment from GuySuCo’s management proved futile.
