SOME 200 cane harvesters at GUYSUCO’s Blairmont operations downed tools for the second day Wednesday to protest against what they described as management’s sudden and arbitrary decision to change the price rules for harvesting cane in thinly populated beds.“Under custom and practice in the past, the Estate used to do something called bed assessments, where they assess a bed of cane, and depending on the estimated amount of cane it can produce, they would compensate harvesters for the extra work or shortfall in meeting their quota,” said Hardyal Ramdihal, Field Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’s Union (GAWU).

He added: “The day task for a harvester is three beds. Management is now demanding four beds per worker. The four beds will cover a bigger area in cutting and in loading will take more time. The cane is thin on the ground and short and in some cases enclosed in vines. But they do not want to give the workers any compensation for the extra work.”

He said that this sudden change by management was bad news for harvesters, since a cane harvester gets paid according to the amount of canes he harvests with 2.6 tonnes per day being the minimum.

Production under this figure results in a harvester being only eligible for half a day’s  pay.

An experienced harvester can harvest a well populated bed in two to two and a half hours but would have to spend as much as twice this time in harvesting a poorly populated bed.

Ramdihal added: “Even if the harvester cuts four of these thinly populated beds there is no guarantee that these beds will yield  enough cane for him to meet the daily quota of 2.6 tonnes to qualify for a day’s pay.”

The workers are demanding the return of bed assessments and the return of fair prices by the management of the Blairmont Estate for these special field conditions.

Some have asked for a flat pay of  $1500 for  harvesting these type of beds but management has rejected this request, they said.

“They know what is involved. Yet they hardening their hearts against us with this sudden change. This is a cruel act by management. This is colonialism all over again,” one worker said.

The angry workers protested outside the Blairmont Office Wednesday at one time lying down in front of the gate and blocking access to the compound; the Police had to be called in.

Late Wednesday, Ramdihal disclosed that management of the estate called him and a few other workers to a meeting to discuss the problem but no agreement had been arrived at.

He said: “The only thing of substance the management said is that the cane harvesters must go back into the back-dam and then they will make a decision on the prices to be paid.”

He said that workers find this position by management unacceptable and the strike is likely to enter its third day Thursday.

Generally, harvesting of the current crop usually lasts for seventeen weeks. This week is the third week of harvesting. (Clifford Stanley)