The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on (Wednesday) July 17 will convene a special conference as the Trade Union Movement celebrates its centennial anniversary. The Conference which will be held under the theme “A century of Trade Unionism – a 100 years of workers’ struggles and achievement” will consider the advancements recorded since the first trade union appeared on the scene a century ago.
In the era of Trade Unions in our country, the workers, and people of Guyana generally, have scored several achievements. A significant victory was the advent of Universal Adult Suffrage which has opened the way for Guyanese from all walks-of-life to take part in national, regional and local elections. Many other improvements have included the right of Guyanese to belong to trade unions; the establishment of a national social security scheme; the recognition of equal pay for equal jobs, in addition to myriad of rights and conditions works enjoy in our contemporary times. The GAWU also recognizes that the workers, along with other segments of the Guyanese people played a decisive role in the attainment of political independence and later were in the forefront in the activities for the restoration of democracy. It is intended that the Conference will consider the contributions of Trade Unions and their leaders to lift, among other achievements, the living-standard and general enhancement of the lives of workers.
Addressing the Conference will be GAWU’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine. In his address he will trace the development of the union movement in our country and point to some of the yet to be realized goals that are before us. Addresses from the President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Carvil Duncan and General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis are slated to be delivered as well. The GAWU has also invited a representative of the political opposition, and Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott will deliver a presentation as well. Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Caribbean Office, Claudia Coenjaerts is scheduled to be present and take place in the Conference also. And, President of the Senate of Grenada, Chester Humphrey is expected to deliver a presentation with special focus on the challenges and opportunities for the Movement in contemporary times. Senator Humphrey, was a long-standing trade unionist having served previously as the President of the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union (GTAWU) and was also General Secretary of the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL)
The GAWU is pleased to organize this activity at this time. The centenary of Trade Unionism is undoubtedly a milestone achievement. The Movement, as a whole, has made a distinct and seminal contribution to our country and its people and which, we are sure, will continue as we set our sights on a better, and bright future.
