Another Harlem sugar mill
It is not another industry. Nor are They are not new workers either . A smoking tower, trucks ‘?noise mixed with voices, the smell of freshly cut cane, wagons and trailers everywhere. That is the dynamic in Harlem sugar mill, a factory whose life backs the effort of men and women, and the pride they are sugar producers.
It inspires confidence to see it produce sugar after a long stop due to a breaking of the boiler. In fact, it was necessary to rework it, a reparation made in 22 days, when it normally requires between 45 and 50 days , said Andrés Avelino Carmona, director of the UEB Harlem sugar mill.
According to Carmona, they have stabilized the grinding and efficiency parameters, they exceed 10 of industrial yield and, in the last week, exceeded the 90 percent of recovery and the potential yield of the cane.
“We finished December and January with profits and an average wage between 950 and 1,000 pesos.”
Between attention and duty
Harlem´s results have their causes. The sense of belonging has always been the main agglutinating element of sugar producers. The most famous example is found in the uninterrupted working days to prepare the boiler.
According to the UEB director , the increase in salaries from profits, the stability of the workers’ transport and the delivery of clothing, shoes, rubber boots and means of protection, as well as the substantial improvement of food, favor motivation to work and, consequently, the productive increase.
Rosa Pino, secretary of the trade union , also stressed the stimulation system, especially with toiletries, to fulfill certain tasks, and sometimes to all workers.
Technichian in purification and concentration, and with 20 years in Harlem, Pino stressed that the machinery is in better conditions than the previous seasons, workers get the production of sugar and they are very enthusiastic. “It seems like it is the right year for the harvest, and we’re making the most of it.”
The leadership of the industry assumes the role with diligence. According to the director , they are focused on technical inspections, equipment´s rotation and lubrication. “We have an engineer to attend this activity and a lubricator per area. We also keep the ground in the evenings, with two members of the Board on duty. “
Of course, not everything is good in Harlem. A brigade of macheteros from Camilo Cienfuegos CPA faced the hard task very fast , but they were worried about the delay of the payment, the poor quality of the food and why they had to drink hot water.
Lázaro Véliz is 55 years old. He has cut cane since he was 18. Due to his work he won ven long ago a Moskvitch car. A thrombus in one of his legs has limited him, but he continues working , machete in hand, because he loves how much he has done all his life. “Man must have understanding and needs attention,” says Véliz, it is something that apparently does not work well these days in the CPA.
As Rosa Pino said, it seems to be an optimum year for the harvest in Bahia Honda township . If we add improvements in the attention to the man, an industry in better conditions and wages according to what is produced, it is only needed to keep the rhythm, to extract the maximum sugar from the cane and solve problems affecting workers.
TRANSLATION BY LMMS
