GAWU 2-day Delegates’ Congress: Workers must change work culture – Pres Ali

…says willing to work with Union, find right balance

The Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) opened its 22nd Delegates’ Congress on Wednesday, with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s assurance that it will listen to their concerns and act on them.
Well over 100 delegates were in attendance at the conference, which opened at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

In his address to the delegates, President Dr Irfaan Ali affirmed his Government’s willingness to listen to their concerns.
“In life, if everyone understands that they individually have responsibility to achieve something, and then we contribute to finding the balance. Because in this seamless relationship we have to find the balance. No one should believe that they will walk away with the winnings. For the relationship to work we have to find a balance.”
“Fortunately for you, you have a Government that is willing to work with you to find that balance. So, I will say to you, let’s work, together, on finding that balance that would enable these stakeholders in the responsibility matrix, to work together,” President Ali said.
At the same time, the President noted that workers must be cognisant of the realities on the ground. He further noted some of the key issues the unions will have to address, include mechanisation and Artificial Intelligence.

“We have to deal with realities. Policymakers and governments must deal with realities. The reality of the country we live in today is that we’re short of labour. Every single day, the contractors come to me and say they can’t find workers. And my dear workers, I love you, but we also have to change our work culture.”
“What unions will be faced with, that you need to address, instantaneously and rapidly, is the technologically driven change that is upon us, that is regarded as robotics, AI and the digital economy. Now the whole world. Imagine AI, robotics and the digital economy is upon us. Now seeing the effect and what this new reality can do, how it can rapidly change things, we’re now fighting to find the legislative environment to manage AI.”

Positive developments
Among the several union leaders who spoke at the conference, was GAWU President Seepaul Narine expressed optimism with the way the economy and particularly, the agriculture sector has been going.
“It is important to acknowledge the positive developments taking place in Guyana. The country has made impressive economic progress under the Presidency of Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali and team. We admire their efforts to improve the well-being and welfare of all citizens. President Ali’s commitment to building a One Guyana nation is commendable. And the involvement of working people and their family, all of us, are crucial to this effort.”
“To propel Guyana forward, we must enhance our abilities and expertise. We are aware of measures being taken to address this issue. And we urge that all Guyanese contribute to the country’s progress, and thereafter reap its successes,” Narine said.

Meanwhile, among those addressing the conference was the recently re-elected General Secretary of the International Union of Food, Agriculture, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco, and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), Sue Longley.
Longley in her address to the delegates said, “globally, and we have to be honest about this, we are seeing a push back on workers’ rights. Sometimes, it is direct repression, sometimes, it is more subtle. And I have heard in the past couple of days, here in Guyana, about the impact of increasing use of contract labour, short-term precarious contracts, and how these undermine us as trade unions, how they make it hard for us to recruit and organise workers into unions.”
Joining the Congress were a number of overseas delegates from Jamaica and Argentina. The Union has also received several messages of solidarity and support from fraternal organisations locally and overseas.
At the opening session, GAWU gave out awards honouring several distinguished Union members who contributed to GAWU’s successes and triumphs. Posthumous awards were also given out to late former GAWU President and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) parliamentarian, Komal Chand, who died in 2020, and former prominent Attorney-at-Law Ashton Chase, who died this year.
The two-day conference will last until today and will feature in-depth discussions that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to, at some point, join as the Union charts its future. Additionally, a new General Council will be elected until the 23rd congress.
During the Business Sessions, the delegates and observers will receive the report of the General Council, which will be presented by the Union’s General Secretary, Aslim Singh. The report will cover more than fifty (50) subjects and will address the Union’s activities, functioning and stewardship since the last Congress. As many as 20 motions will also be moved and discussed. (G3)