Scores of sugar cane workers at Blairmont Sugar Estate in Berbice downed their tools today over a number of issues, including the need for additional pay.

The strike action by the workers started early this morning, with scores of them refusing to turn on to duty and gathering outside the estate gates in large numbers.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union are both tightlipped on the strike action, offering no statements.

Meanwhile, Opposition spokesman on Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Region Five, Vinceroy Jordan has been following the issue closely, and he explained to News Source this afternoon that the workers, who are attached to the Harvesting Unit, are tasked with detrashing the sugar cane in preparation for production. However, they are not paid additional money for the additional job, and that has caused an issue.

“They would have downed tools, basically, refusing to have to detrash canes and be forced to do excess work based on the orders of the supervisors without being paid for the additional work to get the cane to the standard and quality that the factory would require of it,” MP Jordan explained. 

Detrashing refers to the removal of unwanted leaves and other materials from the cane. 

MP Jordan said the workers have been in contact with their union representatives within the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union and have expressed their position.

“They have said very clearly that they are not prepared to work under those conditions,” he said. 

According to the MP, it is now up to the union representatives and their members to determine if the protest will continue for another day, as talks have started with GuySuCo on the issue.

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