GAWU inks three-year wages and salary deal with GuySuCo

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has announced that it has successfully concluded a three (3) year wage/salary agreement with the Guyana Sugar Corporation, which guarantees what the union sees as ‘significant” wages and salary increases to sugar workers.

In a statement, GAWU said the agreement will ensure sugar workers receive the recognition and compensation they deserve.

The pay increases over the three year period mirror the increases that teachers received in their agreement and the increases public servants will receive in their agreement.

For this year, sugar workers will receive a 10% salary increase retroactive to January 1, while for next year they will receive an 8% increase and in 2026, the salary increase will be pegged at 9%.

GAWU said the agreement marked a significant milestone for sugar workers and covers field, factory, and factory-type workers; field foremen/forewomen, and field superintendents.

According to GAWU, with a shared vision for fairness, the parties have committed to achieving a minimum wage of $100,000 monthly in the sugar industry by January 01, 2025, ensuring that every worker below this threshold will receive additional increases.

GAWU and GUYSUCO have been engaged in discussions for several weeks, the union said.

The discussions originated from the GAWU’s proposals submitted earlier this year. The proposals demanded higher pay rates and also tackled essential issues such as improving the issuance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and enhancements to specific allowances for workers, among other benefits.

GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Cheong, expressed his appreciation of the efforts of the Union and Management teams during the negotiations. He said he remains excited about the future of GuySuCo, indicating that the company has been actively implementing plans to enhance cane yields and advance factory improvements.

GAWU said the agreement is historic since it is the first time since GAWU became the bargaining agent for sugar workers in 1976 that a three-year agreement has been reached between the Union and the Corporation.

The union said some $5 Billion will reach the pockets of workers through the agreement. The new agreement comes at a time when the sugar industry remains in crisis as GuySuCo prepares to record its most dismal production year in the corporation’s history.