Sugar workers have taken to occupying the Montellano mill until State Sugar Council (CEA) Director Oscar Santiago Batista makes good on his promise to pay them 40% of the back-pay due them since early 1998. The CEA owes its workers some RD$17 million in back pay. Sugar workers picketed the National Palace last week to demand their pay, and at that time received promises from the CEA Director. The Montellano mill, located in Puerto Plata province, has hundreds of tons of sugar warehoused whose shipment to markets is being blocked by the workers. An end to the worker blockade may come today when the directors of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (Fenazúcar) meet in Santo Domingo with Labor Minister Rafael Alburquerque.
