Berbice. Industrial unrest continues to plague sugar factories in Berbice in the early days of the final crop for the year. A high-level team was due to meet with striking workers at Blairmont on today to help resolve issues triggering another very low turnout in the field workshop and factory. Disgruntled over the job evaluation process, workers from the two departments downed tools on yesterday and today.
Guyana Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU), New Amsterdam Office Supervisor Harvey Tambron disclosed that he was advised that when the lorries became stuck, two tractors from the Rose Hall Estate were dispatched to pull the trucks from the potholes at Heatburn; however, residents reportedly came out and objected, forcing the trucks to remain in the holes in a effort to highlight their plight on the deplorable road.
“About 165 of our workers did not get to go to work, because of that production is affected… GuySuCo fell short by almost 30,000 tonnes for last crop, and it’s a setback financially because making sugar means bringing in money in the industry… recently, we had the job evaluation which amounted to a lot of money for wages and salaries then the union is in negotiations now for wages for 2012… one should understand that without sugar, there is no money… at the said time, one should not compromise safety,” stated Tambron, as he summed up the confusion that occurred on Wednesday, stressing that the union is very careful over the safety of the workers.
The affected workers, harvesting gangs C and P out of Rose Hall Estate, were severely affected. Tambron illustrated that 165 members of the P gang turned out, but only 85 workers managed to reach the worksite and loaded 40 of the 70 punts projected for the day.
While 135 harvesters from the C gang turned out, only 55 made it to work and managed to load 24 of the 50 punts lined up to be filled with canes. At the strike at Blairmont, TrakkerNews was told that field workshop and factory workers refused to work since Wednesday, and those at the Mechanical Tillage Department joined them on today over issues surrounding the job evaluation process.
“The reason for that is that they are dissatisfied with certain aspects of the job evaluation, more so the years of service… I further understand that a delegation from the field workshop went to Georgetown on Tuesday to meet with the general secretary to express their dissatisfaction with the job evaluation.”
He stated at the meeting on Thursday, there would be a lengthy discussion on the issues raised and queried by the striking workers with a team from GuySuCo and senior members of GAWU in a hope to have workers resume work.
At Skeldon, harvesters went on strike on this morning over transportation and pricing issues. Over 100 workers refused to work this morning and returned home over the grouse. At Albion, 314 workers out of 440 also refused to work over transportation issues for injured persons that arose on Wednesday. A source at Albion disclosed that the matter at that particular estate has been sorted and workers are expected to return to the field in full strength tomorrow.
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