-factory workers on strike over production manager
GuySuCo this week fired a production manager and head lab technician attached to the Rose Hall Estate after claims of sugar going missing sometime last crop. Meanwhile, factory workers yesterday went on strike as they are not in agreement with the replacement for the production manager.
While the sugar corporation is yet to make any official statement on the matter, information gathered revealed that on Thursday workers were informed that the estate’s production manager and the head lab technician were let go. They were also informed of the person who would be replacing the production manager.
Stabroek News was told that there were reports of sugar going missing from last crop which eventually led to the termination.
However, after being informed of the replacement for the production manager, factory workers at the estate became annoyed as they claimed that that person was previously stationed at the estate prior to its closure and was accused of turning a blind eye to the dumping of sugar and damaging of canes, ultimately resulting in its closure.
Factory workers who were on shift on Thursday evening turned up at the estate but then proceeded to strike, while the same happened yesterday morning.
A representative for the workers, Gairaj Ramotar, yesterday morning said that “we get to understand them knock off two man… Now them bring one man (name given) to take over but that man work at Rose Hall Estate, he close down this estate and them bring he back. He a the man who stick this cane and when the man tell he no, them knock off that man, one set of story and he make the estate close… He work with them to close the estate. Them workers say them na want he here.”
Additionally, Ramotar said that they were not fully informed as to the reasons behind the firing of the two staff. He stressed, “Abbay na want that man here, that’s why abbay deh out here.”
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, David Armogan at this month’s Regional Democratic Council meeting stated that both Rose Hall and Albion estates had started grinding.
He stated, “So far the TC/TS (tonnes cane per tonne sugar) at Rose Hall has not been good, in fact it is in the 20s, and in Albion it is 14, so we have to be able to look at Rose Hall to bring down the TC/TS because we are using far more canes at Rose Hall to make a ton of sugar.”
According to Armogan, one of the issues the estates are facing is the procurement of lumber which continues to be a challenge. “Because you know when the boilers have to start up you got to get lumber too, because they are not producing enough bagasse so they have to be buying firewood and they are not getting enough round wood to buy.”
