The workers of the Uitvlugt factory this morning (May 29, 2020) continued their protest actions as they continued to demand measures to promote adequate social distancing at the workplace while ensuring that their hours-of-work remained outside of the curfew period. At this time, the GuySuCo remains inflexible though at the commencement of the out-of-crop period it had agreed that workers would not work during the curfew period. At a meeting yesterday between the Union and the Estate Management, the workers expressed a willingness to compromise to some extent. The Estate, however, adamantly held to its position and insisted that the workers must work in the curfew hours notwithstanding the difficulties they faced.
This morning the workers staged a picketing exercise calling on the GuySuCo to re-look at its doggedly-held stance in the interest of their health and safety at work whilst protecting the community at large from being victims of COVID-19. Certainly, their calls are not outlandish or unprincipled as some have sought to say. Today, as the workers continued their protests, in keeping with the relevant conditions, a contingent of police officers again turned up. In announcing their presence, the officers instructed the workers to immediately end their picketing and to disperse from the vicinity. When asked why they were being asked to end their picketing, the police advised that the COVID-19 restrictions prevented such activities. To that end, the workers and the Union explained that the workers were standing approximately six (6) feet from each other and wore their masks. Notwithstanding the explanation the police insisted and the workers being respectful heeded their call though most upset and disturbed.
We see the escalation of the issue to the point it has reached as being most unfortunate. Certainly, we hold that sober-minded discussions could well see an appropriate arrangement being reached in the interest of all parties. However, it appears from the company’s point-of-view, such an approach is lacking and contributing to the sorry state-of-affairs. We nevertheless look forward to sensibleness being arrived at in view of the prevailing public health crisis. The workers call, we reiterate, has significant merit and is in keeping with policies that have been embraced in other sections of the estate already. All they are seeking is equitable treatment as they seek to remain safe at this time.
