The pattern of social relations which developed during the first few years experience with the new arrangements did not fully correspond with the ideal, or with corresponding expectations. From the beginning, the sugar worker cooperatives project was affected by the cleavages and social contradictions that existed between workers and estate staff. The deep cleavages apparent in the relations between the two classes also involved social and economic factors. The agrarian bourgeoisie tended to interact socially only among themselves, often living together on the estate compound. In defense of the elected worker leadership, it is true that the cooperatives experienced a number of serious economic, social and political problems right at the outset, and the brunt of these fell on their shoulders. The pattern of social relations which arose out of the cooperativization process was also affected by the rank and file workers themselves.