-sacked fire attendant denies negligence
Skeldon factory workers who took spontaneous industrial action earlier this week agreed to resume working yesterday to clear the way for negotiations between GuySuCo and the unions over several recent dismissals.
President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand said yesterday that the strike was over but that “the real talk” will begin today. He said the unions will meet with officials from the sugar corporation this morning to discuss what grounds the workers were fired on and whether they were justified.
GuySuCo had indicated it was willing to talk but on the condition that the workers resume duties and, according to Chand, the workers have agreed to turn out. The corporation took disciplinary action against nine employees following an investigation into a recent fire that resulted in extensive damage to a bagasse conveyor belt and according to Chief Executive Officer Paul Bhim the incident will cost the industry between $20 million and $25 million in repair works. “Based on what we heard during the meeting we will know how to react,” Chand said yesterday. GAWU represents three of the sacked employees while another is represented by NAACIE. Chand noted that the discussions tomorrow will concern the employees who are unionized.
Fair hearing
Herman Kissoon, a fire attendant at the factory, said yesterday that he was dismissed without a fair hearing and also on shaky grounds. Kissoon falls under GAWU representation and he is hoping to be re-instated after the meeting today; he said the corporation had no evidence against him to send him home.
Kissoon detailed his story on the night of the fire at the bagasse plant, saying that he did what was required of him and could do no more because “I am de only fire attendant there.” He said that inspecting the entire factory takes time, noting that he could not be expected to be “two, three places” at one time. He explained that he made the regular checks on the night in question and saw nothing like a fire, but the corporation has since accused them of allowing the fire to burn for some six hours before it was detected.
“Six hours? Which fire could burn so long and people ain’t know?” Kissoon asked yesterday, noting that there is an urgent need for at least three fire attendants on staff to adequately cover a routine inspection of the factory. Kissoon said when he was alerted of the blaze he was part of the team which brought it under control. However, he said he was accused of being absent from the scene.
Kissoon worked at the sugar corporation for 19 years and according to him, “a lot of things at this new factory need addressing.” He said the workers are there every day, acting beyond the call of duty and doing more than can be reasonably expected, which is why he said the others decided to strike on their behalf. He said those who are in the system understand fully well the conditions they are working under and “what we have to face daily.”
He added that the sugar industry is his life and that he intends to serve out his years contributing to its development.
The Skeldon factory has a production target of 34,000 tonnes for this crop with some 480,000 tonnes of cane to be harvested.
The corporation said on Tuesday that over 650 punts of cane are in a state of readiness for crushing which will yield approximately 4,000 tonnes of sugar, and it noted that the “strike action by the factory workers is at a most inopportune time.”
