DTL workers strike against “nine hours a day” electricity

Sep 20, 2012 News

About 80 of the 120 workers attached to the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) – Mabura Hill location, yesterday downed tools and mounted protest to register their demands for the restoration of 24 hour electricity supply.
This newspaper understands that the protest was staged at the operation’s premises, which also house the majority of the employees.
Kaieteur News has learnt that there is currently a schedule for electricity on the premises; two hours early in the morning- 6:00hrs-8:00hrs, then 10:00hrs-12:00hrs and 17:00hrs- 22:00hrs which amounts to a total of nine hours of electricity a day.
Workers say that they have voiced dissatisfaction over the situation and were met with an explanation that there is a fuel shortage.
According to an employee, initially, the company had informed that the nine-hour a day of electricity would have only been a temporary situation. Management had attributed that to the fact that the Linden crisis was ongoing and fuel was not being efficiently accessed by the company.
However, the employee said that workers are no longer accepting that excuse since the “Linden situation” has long been sorted out, yet 24-hour electricity has not been restored.
According to President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand, this has been the situation for quite some time “a few weeks well”.
Chand informed that with the absence of the company’s Managing Director, Anthony Young, no negotiations could have been possible. However, he noted that Young is expected to return to work today and “I hope that this issue could be resolved”.
This newspaper understands that GAWU has been advised that the old power generation plant is consuming an excessive amount of diesel and a new one is needed.
Workers say the insufficient electricity supply has also resulted in vaccines and other medicines being destroyed because they are not being refrigerated continuously.
Union officials say that electricity supply and housing are part of the package being offered to employees involved in tree-felling and sawmilling.
Kaieteur News learnt that since the end of the “Linden crisis”, the company has been exporting raw logs rather than sawn lumber which requires 24-hour electricity. Workers said it appears as if the company will not, any time soon, hurry to resume sawmilling operations.
Workers say that they will continue strike today with optimism that the company will restore round-the-clock electricity; however, no management official conducted any talks with them.

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DTL workers strike against “nine hours a day” electricity

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