Stephen Daniels

The Agriculture Ministry will be mediating talks between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) today to end a strike by workers that shutdown the Skeldon factory and which is being blamed for the burning of just over 80 acres of cane.

As a result of the shutdown and GuySuCo’s resulting inability to supply power to the national grid, the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) yesterday announced that it had been forced to load shed in Demerara and Berbice since Sunday.

Workers proceeded to strike after dock mill worker Stephen Daniels was dismissed on Saturday morning, following an altercation with Estate Manager Dave Kumar the previous night. By Saturday afternoon, workers started to strike to show solidarity and the action continued up to yesterday.

GuySuCo yesterday said approximately 34 hectares of cane were burnt on Sunday in retaliation to Daniels’ dismissal, while GAWU President Komal Chand said it was an act of arson and that the union denounced it. He stressed yesterday that there can be an amicable resolution to the issue but warned that the dispute could act as a catalyst for continued unrest.

Chand told Stabroek News that the union was invited to meet the ministry today to work out a resolution to get striking workers back to work. It is estimated over 2,000 field and factory workers have gone on strike.

He said that such a strike was unprecedented and he could not recall when an incident would have cause such provocation that workers from all lines of employment went on strike simultaneously.

The union is alleging that on Friday night Kumar was intoxicated during a heated verbal exchange with Daniels. Daniels told this newspaper that while reporting the episode to his supervisor, he was again approached by Kumar, who allegedly rushed at him. He said he attempted to bar himself and accidentally struck Kumar, who claimed he was cuffed. Another verbal exchange took place and the manager at that point called security guards to escort Daniels off the work site. Daniels was served with a dismissal letter the next day.

GuySuCo, however, has denied the allegation. It said Kumar, during his usual night visit to the factory and mill dock, met a group of workers, including Daniels, who were malingering in the vicinity of the mill dock. It said Daniels became abusive toward the estate manager after he told him to report to his work station.

GuySuCo charged that Daniels subsequently approached Kumar in a hostile manner, and in the process struck him in his face. It also said that the episode was witnessed by the Agriculture Manager and a Supernumery Constable, who deny that Kumar was drunk.

Chand stated that since Kumar was involved in the physical altercation with Daniels the decision to serve him with a dismissal letter should never have come from him. He stated that the issue should have been taken to the industrial relations department and an investigation should have been done.

Stabroek News understands that although GAWU and GuySuCo met over the weekend and again at the corporate head offices yesterday, workers at other estates had expressed their outrage over the corporation’s actions. This publication was told that the unrest could incite an industry-wide strike as workers and mid-level management were becoming increasingly weary of the way in which management treated employees.

Chand said that tension was high among workers, many of whom had complained about issues with Kumar in the past. He noted that after discussions with workers on Sunday, GAWU was made privy to many workers’ frustrations with the estate manager and other members of management.

Chand also said that contrary to what GuySuCo is stating, Skeldon did not grind any sugar over the weekend. Chand said that currently there are 1,130 punts of sugar docked awaiting grinding and even more cane in the backdam area that needs to be loaded.

Meanwhile, at Skeldon, the workers are demanding that Kumar be moved immediately from the estate and Daniels return to his job. “All we are asking him is to withdraw the dismissal letter and the worker return to his job. Justice must prevail,” one representative said.

Kumar met the workers on Sunday morning but they were dissatisfied.

Another employee Richard Alfred accused the manager of behaving like a bully. “If something is wrong and you report to him, you have to listen and don’t say anything… he said after God is him… this attitude problem is terrible,” Alfred said. “If you do not give respect you cannot get respect,” he added.

Other workers who spoke to Stabroek News explained that before Daniels was fired, the shift manager in the factory was verbally abused by Kumar over the radio set and threatened with dismissal.