Zed posted:Django, you worked for some time with them, are you part of the problem, assuming that you are correct in your assertion.? Were you helping in collect dues, duping workers? Were you one of the leeches? Explain the new found sense if morality!
From the title of your post, is it your position that GAWU has never done anything to improve the lives and working conditions of sugar workers?
Zed,
The Causual Gang had a discussion among themselves and asked that i represent their interest.Those days [in the 70's] most of the priority for punts and better pricing for obstacles were given to the permanent gang.The Casual workers become disturbed and wanted their own representative.
I am Educated but choose to work in the Sugar Industry due the independence and the money was better.That was after a stint in GT didn't liked it much and moved back home.I had no pride,the workers knew that,one of the reasons I was chosen as their representative.I would calculate their daily earnings from the amount of cane loaded,it matched pretty close,when the chits were given by the weigh station.
The Casual gang was always second fiddle,although they had couple years of service,also the gang grew in size and was comparable in production to the permanent gang.
Bear in mind these were children of current and former Sugar Workers from the Community.
Both the MPCA and GAWU were workers representative,actually the MPCA representative influence the Managers and most of us were hired.
The workers choose GAWU to represent their interest,as such i was inducted in GAWU's fold.The Casual workers condition improved we got the same pricing for obstacles and punts were shared equitably,and they were satisfied,union dues were deducted from our pay checks.
What broke the camels back was an opening was created for first aid attendant.The Casual Gang said i should get the position, discussion was held between the other representatives and my self and it was agreed i will get the position.Few days after while turned up for work in the morning,my partners said you heard what happened,i said no !,they said the position was given to another person from the permanent gang.
Truly i had no problem,i felt betrayed by the other representatives,they should have told me,I confronted their back stabbing,and quit that same day,that was it,no more Sugar Plantation for Django.