The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is set to host its 22nd Delegates’ Congress this week, where over 300 delegates will converge to address key issues and ills affecting workers.
On Wednesday and Thursday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, the milestone activity will be held under the theme “Advancing Workers’ Rights, Economic Progress and Social Justice”. It will review the work of the Union since its last Congress in 2016 while examining local and international developments.
President Dr Irfaan Ali and recently re-elected General Secretary of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco, and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), Sue Longley are expected to address the gathering.
General Secretary of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), Sue Longley
The Union has added that it will also honour several outstanding Union members who have contributed to GAWU’s successes and triumphs. Joining the Congress will be overseas delegates from Jamaica and Argentina, with solidarity and support from fraternal organisations locally and overseas.
Delegates and observers will receive the report of the General Council, which will be presented by the Union’s General Secretary, Aslim Singh.
“The comprehensive report covers more than 50 subjects and will address the Union’s activities, functioning, and stewardship since the last Congress. Following the report’s presentation, delegates and observers will share their contributions and offer suggestions and guidance as the GAWU charts its path until the next Congress.”
The business session will also see some 20 motions being moved and discussed. The proposed motions address several important and relevant issues and are sure to attract some level of discussion.
The beginnings of GAWU trace back to 1946, when the British Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU) was founded. The Union played a large role in a strike in 1948 by workers on a number of estates on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).
It was officially established in 1961 and is the largest Trade Union in Guyana, representing almost 20,000 workers including the overwhelming majority of sugar workers who are employed in the country’s largest industry. GAWU also represents workers in fish processing, forestry, rice processing, distilleries, services, and other sectors.
At the international level, the representative body is affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), which has a membership of millions in 130 countries; and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Association (IUF) which represents 336 organisations in 120 countries.
