An across-the-board wage increase of 6.5 percent effective from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 covering some 5,000 employees was agreed on 4 July under the Sugar Bargaining Council negotiations. Back payments will be effective not later than 22 July. The Council parties are three unions and six major sugar employers in the Sugar …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/south-africa-wage-agreement-reached-sugar-bargaining-council/
South Africa: Strike and resolution at cane-growing Harden Heights
A strike lasting from 27 June to 6 July at Harden Heights ended with an agreement granting a 6.68 percent wage increase as a “minimum sectoral wage,” a 7 percent increase in other financial benefits and for work on Saturdays. There is also an annual bonus, while FAWU established the basics for a workers’ forum.
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Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/south-africa-strike-resolution-cane-growing-harden-heights/
Guyana: Trade Union Centrals call for a turnaround in sugar
The 2016 May Day celebrations in Georgetown, Guyana ought to be considered as an historical opportunity for the country’s trade union movement and, particularly, to the unions in the sugar sector. The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo), a state-owned and run company, that overwhelmingly dominates the country’s growing and processing of the sugar cane, has …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/guyana-trade-union-centrals-call-turnaround-sugar/
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/peru-school-kids-intoxicated-aerial-spraying-insecticide-san-jacinto/
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/zambia-nupaaw-reaches-agreement-illovos-zambia-sugar/
India: Drought, Cane, Child Marriage, Failed Policies
A commentary with notes from a friend
It is, unfortunately, a common situation. The Internet edition of the Times of India posted an article untitled “Drought & distress push 14-year-olds into marriage in Marathwada’s Jalna district.” Nothing new, unfortunately, in one of the largest sugar producer in the world, and in an …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/india-drought-cane-child-marriage-failed-policies/
Sexual Harassment. A case in the sugar sector of Kenya
By Caroline Busaka and Judith Siwa
At a recent IUF Sugar workshop with KUSPAW, Caroline Busaka made general comments about a sexual harassment case she has learned directly from the victim. With no references to personal details, and having changed some of the circumstances, the following is an attempt to keep the core …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/sexual-harassment-case-sugar-sector-kenya/
Guyana: Closing Wales without consultation cannot be a move forward for GuySuCo
Commentary and Request for Solidarity Messages
I know the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) since 1982. It is a union who works hard on behalf of the workers in one of the country’s key economic pillars: sugar The sector is owned and run by the state under the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), with …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/guyana-closing-wales-like-cannot-move-forward-guysuco/
Working in the boilers section of a sugar factory in Kenya
Video and information by Miriam Wanyama, KUSPAW
After hearing some workers’ complains, I visited the boilers and power house sections of the sugar estate in Kenya where I work. This video is of one boiler attendant.
The boilers, where heat is generated to produce steam, are old fashioned, and workers have to manually …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/working-in-the-boilers-section-of-a-sugar-factory-in-kenya/
Kenya: Confronting sexual harassment in the sugar sector. Joint work with KUSPAW (Chapter III)
In her remarks to the Chemelil-Muhoroni workshop, Caroline told us about a conversation she once had with a female colleague. The colleague, she said, had complained of ongoing sexual harassment at work, and had approached her for help – or at least to have someone to talk to. Caroline suggested accompanying her to talk to …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.iuf.org/sugarworkers/kenya-confronting-sexual-harassment-in-the-sugar-sector-joint-work-with-kuspaw-chapter-iii/