Clark solves harvester v manual dispute

Adisagreement between the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Labasa mill workers and cane truck drivers was resolved yesterday.

The dispute was over the unloading of cane system. This was confirmed by FSC chief executive officer Graham Clark.

Labasa Cane Lorry Association president Mohammed Janab while talking to drivers said: “Some drivers were disappointed to see that the FSC workers allowed more trucks loaded with cane harvested using mechanical harvesters while those drivers who brought manually harvested canes were left behind for long hours. “Some drivers got angry and refused to supply cane to the mill,” Mr Janab said. “So I called Mr Clark and informed him what happened and he managed to resolve this issue.” Labasa Cane Lorry and Tractor Drivers Club president Yusuf San said mill workers should allow at one time six trucks loaded with cane harvested manually and two trucks loaded with cane harvested from mechanical harvester. (ratio should be 6:2) “Within one day the system changed and they favoured truck drivers with mechanical harvested canes,” Mr San said.

“Why we are disappointed because we have to stand long hours with less food supply and limited to supply only one load of cane to the mill in a day.”

It is understood that trucks that carried cane cut from mechanical harvesters are able to supply more than three loads of cane over those manually cut.

Mr San claimed the constant mill breakdown was also a challenge.

Mr Clark said that mill breakdowns occur from time to time but repairs were quickly made.

“We did stop for a shredder breakdown but through-put is back up again,” he said. Labasa mill has crushed 192,204 tonnes of cane up to Monday morning. As a result 19,619 tonnes of sugar was produced.

Last year during the same period the cane crushed was 211,737 tonnes with 22,083 tonnes of sugar produced. Mr Clark said the reason for the difference is because of lower tonnage due to poor cane delivery.