Forty-two (42) years ago on February 27, 1976, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Sugar Producers Association (SPA), the forerunner to the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo), signed the Recognition and Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement. The historic signing, as it was, legitimized the GAWU as the bargaining agent on behalf of the thousands of sugar workers employed in the industry’s fields and factories. It was indeed a landmark moment in the ongoing struggles of the sugar workers, who like all workers, are seeking to be treated with respect and dignity, to have their rights and conditions protected and to advance their causes and lot.
The formation of the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU) in 1946 commenced the 30-year struggle for GAWU’s recognition in the place of the Man Power Citizens’ Association (MPCA). An early highpoint in the struggle took place in 1948 when workers at Non Pareil, Lusignan and Better Hope struck, opposing the imposition of the cut-and-load system. The strikers also demanded the recognition of GIWU, and protested against the miserable working and living conditions they endured. That struggle saw the brutal death of five (5) sugar workers and injury to fourteen (14) others on June 16, 1948, when the colonial police opened fire on the unarmed workers.
By 1955, the GIWU ceased to function. Soon thereafter, another Union the Guyana Sugar Workers Union (GSWU), was formed and registered in 1961. It was renamed the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) in 1962. The GAWU reignited the struggle for union recognition, but the sugar planters remained steadfast in refusing to recognize the Union despite the fierce struggles it mounted. In the struggle for recognition, an important place is occupied by the death of Kowsilla which occurredon March 06, 1964 outside the Leonora Factory gate. Kowsilla and striking sugar workers were protesting against their denial of work, and at the same time were demanding the recognition of GAWU. The General Manager of the Estate reportedly instructed a scab who was driving a tractor to drive onto the factory bridge, an act which led to Kowsilla’s death. GAWU is forever indebted to Kowsilla, and has organized a yearly commemoration activity in her memory, which is usually held at her gravesite at Anna Catherina Cemetery.
It required many forceful battles led by GAWU to get the SPA, at last, to decide to have a poll to determine recognition. The poll was conducted by the Ministry of Labour on Old Year’s Day 1975. The change of the SPA’s stance was linked to the changing political climate and the prevailing situation in the country. The poll vindicated GAWU’s claim that it had the overwhelming support of the sugar workers. Of the 21,655 votes cast by workers, the MPCA ignominiously received 376, or 1.71 per cent; 92 votes, or 0.42 per cent, were deemed spoilt; and GAWU deservedly obtained 21,487 votes, or 97.87 per cent of the votes. The poll was history making.
Since our recognition, the Union has advanced representation for improving the pay levels of its members, supported actions to bring about the improvement of their conditions of work, and obtained greater benefits for them. GAWU has always been motivated by the need to defend workers’ rights and promote workers’ welfare, seeing these as necessary steps along the way to bring an end to exploitation and usher in profound social changes.
Contemporary challenges
Today as we reflect with pride on the challenges we overcame, and the several success we recorded, we do so looking to the future with great anxiety and worry about what tomorrow and the days after that will bring. Dismayingly, the Administration without any sound logic or even any credible economic justification have taken decisions to close sugar estates and have put thousands of workers on the breadline in the last two (2) years. These decisions which can be described as reckless, heartless and ill-considered have taken a heavy toll in the sugar belt where estates have been closed. The now former, currently jobless, sugar workers have shared the hardships they have and are facing.
Former Rose Hall worker, Glendon Grant says “…people in the community are frustrated, personally I am frustrated, every morning I wake up I don’t know what to do”. Grant, went on to say, “…you can’t deprive people of their livelihood, this Government didn’t think what it would do, it didn’t see the negative impact it would have on people life…”. An ex-cane cutter of Wales, Michael Chootoo, shared that “…we ain’t get no wuk [work], we ain’t get no severance, we ain’t get no nothing…”. Chootoo said he “…is not getting no job, he ain’t getting no money and he got pickney [children]going to school…”. He sadly shared that his wife left him after he was unable to provide for his family. Herlene Lewis, who was employed at Skeldon, said she was “…very disturbed, very disturbed especially for the young people what are they going to do, crime rate is also on the increase in the entire Guyana and not only Skeldon but the entire Guyana…education wise some people just came out of high school, graduates from the University of Guyana but they cannot get a job, what will these people do?”. She went on to say “…as far as I am concern this nation has become a stagnated nation and only God can help us”.
We need to also emphasize that the workers faced with daunting challenges brought about by an uncaring Government did not give up hope. They stood up and defended militantly their jobs, their families and their communities. They demonstrated an indomitable will to succeed and to call attention to and overcome their plight. Their laudable actions to counter the deathly hands of the State on their jobs and livelihood found sincere sympathy among a wide section of Guyanese and also from several overseas organisations. Their sustained struggles brought several allies who spoke up in their defense in the press, in social media and elsewhere. This is a monumental achievement and one that workers should take great pride and solace in.
Workers marches, protests, picketing exercises, press conferences, public meetings and other activities without a doubt, in our view, prompted the Administration to re-think their hardened position. The closure position has seemingly been re-visited and the Government has decided to apparently divest estates which arguably, are the lesser of two evils but not necessarily the best solution. While we know this is not the outcome neither the workers nor the GAWU wanted, the workers can hold their heads high and once again recognize an abiding lesson of working-class history, that is, in authoritarian, class divided societies, the elites holding the reins of power, never or hardly ever ensure justice for the working-class. Thus, the struggle for real, pro-working people change must continue.
We take heart in the knowledge that time is the greatest judge. We are sure it will endorse the justness of our struggles and, moreover, correct the injustices of today. History and future generations of Guyanese will condemn harshly those who advanced, approved and implemented the plans which affected so many ordinary people. The times, though difficult and distressing, must not daunt us, but, indeed, impel us for more determined activities. We of the GAWU pledge to continue to represent the workers’ cause, to bring greater attention to the workers plight, and to press on to win effective support and solidarity for their case.
