– 30 participants found programme beneficial and enlightening
Last Saturday (September 08, 2018), the first thirty (30) participants concluded the first stage of their training under the UNIFOR/GAWU Educational project. The four day training session which began on September 05, 2018 saw workers from Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates attending the classes at the GAWU Labour College. Through several sessions, the participants were exposed to international, regional and local developments in the sugar sector; a special presentation from GuySuCo on its plans for the sugar industry; the experiences following re-organisation of the sugar sector in the Caribbean; GAWU’s participation in national sugar discussions; the sugar industry and its relations with the economy and society; the structure and history of GAWU; review of relevant labour legislation, agreements and international conventions, among other subjects.
The participants, at the end of the training session, shared they learnt a lot and ab many things they were hearing from the first time. They shared that they found the topics interesting and the subjects were keenly followed. The participants committed to going back to their respective workplaces and communities and sharing what they learnt with workers and members of their communities. They also complimented the Union for organizing the programme and expressed their thanks to UNIFOR for its support
The participants will return for another one-week training session sometime in early 2019 at which they will share their experiences following the training programme as well as be exposed to additional training on matters which will be beneficial to them. During the intervening period, the project has devised several strategies to remain in contact with the participants; help them to overcome any difficulties they may face; provide them necessary material and information they would need in speaking with workers and others, among other things.
The one-year educational project, which is funded by UNIFOR’s Social Justice Fund (SJF), was launched Wednesday last (September 05, 2018). At that simple activity GAWU’s President, Komal Chand expressed the Union’s appreciation to UNIFOR for its timely support and encouraged participants to make full use of the training and techniques that would be taught. He also thanked the GuySuCo for its support in facilitating the paid-release of the workers to attend the training programme. UNIFOR’s National President, Jerry Dias said his union was pleased to lend support as he pointed out that the participants have the ability to effect change to their benefit. He urged them to use their new-found knowledge on the ground and share what they learnt at the workplace and in the communities. During the launching activity, brief remarks were also received from First Vice President of the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) of Jamaica and IUF Regional Secretary, Clifton Grant; GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis; FITUG General Secretary, Dawchan Nagasar, and Project Coordinator, Jorge Chullen.
The project attention now shifts to organizing the next course which will be held expectedly at the end of October, 2018. From our experiences during the initial course, some subtle changes would be made to allow for a smoother flow of the sessions. The GAWU has always strongly held that education of union members is a critical task for the Union as it is only through our educational work that workers would have a better understanding of their rights and obligations and thus be able to become better union members, employees and persons in society.
