Hopefully the sugar unions will be energised to rise above limitations
Dear Editor
Please be good enough to provide some small space to: justly offer congratulations to GAWU’s articulate representation of its role in the sugar industry and the indicators given of its contribution to its future sweetness.
Secondly, to note the submission which was reviewed in Stabroek News of Saturday 29th August, was but a very summarised historical set of facts of the role of sugar in Guyana – intended for persons not necessarily privy to such information.
Thirdly, to attest to what the undersigned has always regarded as a cordial and mutually respectful relationship with the aforementioned union executive.
Fourthly, to remark that several of the latter’s observations cannot be supported evidentially. For example appropriate research would have confirmed the existence of this writer’s comprehensive formal submission protesting the latest closure of estates, indeed before the effective time.
What, however, is really interesting about other remarks is the not inconsistent admission of hostility embedded in the industrial relationships of the sugar industry.
One example that may not be well known or remembered, is the 135 days industry-wide strike called by GAWU in August 1977 (without the conventional 72 hours ultimatum). The issue was the payment of profit-sharing by the newly nationalised Corporation – in 1976 – in respect of the years 1974, 1975, 1976, in the first two of which Bookers Sugar Estates Ltd was still the owners; while the first crop of 1977 also fell under that Company’s management. The strike was called off on January 6, 1978.
En passant, it may be worth mentioning that there were invited interventions during the period of other local unions, the Oilfields Workers Union of Trinidad & Tobago; as well as trade unionists from the Tate & Lyle Refinery in the United Kingdom.
In its press release of January 05, 1978, GAWU was quoted as saying, “…faced with a heartless and ruthless regime on the other hand and a divided labour movement unwilling to take united positive action on the other, GAWU considers that the continuation of the strike will not be in the interest of the workers and the nation.”
In the meantime it is worth noting the following strike statistics:
One is uncertain of what lessons management and unions would have learnt from that industrial upheaval. To fast forward, the following is a more recent sample of the Corporation’s experience of what is misnamed ‘industrial relations’:
Arguably, there is no comparable behaviour record in any industry elsewhere in the world. Hopefully, the point will be appreciated that the two existing unions – GAWU and NAACIE – will now commit to the responsibility of adjusting from the constipation of contentiousness towards proactive leadership roles that would earn respect – as equal partners in the future of the sugar industry of Guyana. It takes teamanship to win.
The undersigned succeeded to the position of Chief Personnel Officer on the nationalisation of the industry as the Guyana Sugar Corporation – then constituted of ten grinding estates. He was the first of the Booker Cadetship Programme to be selected (in 1958) for overseas training in the then field of Personnel Management. His contribution to the industry has been well documented over the years.
Not totally unconnected, the following might be of some interest:
Before the recognition of the Guyana Industrial Workers’ Union (GIWU) – by poll in 1976 - soon after renamed the Guyana and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), others in the industry consisted of the following:
a) Guyana Headmen’s Union (GHU) – representing who are better known as Field Foremen and included Chargehands; b) Sugar Estates Supervisors’ Association (SESA) – representing Field and Factory Supervisors c) Guiana and West Indies Sugar Boilers Union (GIWISBU) – constituting of local sugar boilers who also worked in Barbados, Antigua, and St. Kitts; as well as far as Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania during the Bookers’ regime. d) Sicknurses and Dispensers’ Association – representing Certified Nurses, Nurse/Midwives, Midwives and Dispensers (Pharmacists) e) Sugar Estates Clerks Association
Several of the above were included in a restructured National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), who would appear to have been overlooked recently. There is therefore now not only the imperious GAWU (leadership).
In the final analysis citizens should insist on a fundamental psychological change – towards proactive relationships that will contribute to the success of whatever the Corporation produces in the future. There have been several other worthwhile recommendations which must be seriously examined.
Indeed, individually and severally, they have provided ‘food’ for creative thought and action. Hopefully, Unions too will be energised, like us all, to rise above our respective limitations, determined to contribute to the future sweetness of our national heritage.