GAWU General Secretary, Seepaul Narine address to NAACIE’s 11th Biennial Conference

GAWU is, naturally, only too pleased, in a more than just usual or normal fraternal context, to bring NAACIE, the warmest brotherly greetings – and sincere wishes for a successful 49th Delegates/ 11th Biennial Conference.

“STRIVING TOWARDS UNITY” as your union’s motto declares, we, GAWU and NAACIE, frequently find it incumbent for us to collaborate on various issues, tactics and approaches in the interest of our members. This is especially so in the sugar industry and affiliated sectors within which we are the workers bargaining agents.

But that fact apart, we note that the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) was registered number 40 in 1946. This means that your union has been fighting the workers fight for six decades – a solid innings of struggle, not out!

Your union is, therefore, well placed to appreciate the development in the field of trade union representation in Guyana before and since our forty years of political independence. You know of the struggles, the challenges and – yes – the ACHIEVEMENTS of the movement in recent history.

But do we have a genuine workers’ MOVEMENT in Guyana today? It’s difficult to fool ourselves. The Unity in your motto is elusive. We in the trade union sector must now actively pursue this issue by examining why division exists.

We quote from GAWU’s President’s remarks this past May Day: “There are now in Guyana two Trade Union Umbrella Organisations – the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG). The membership in FITUG is growing. The Unions which are affiliates of this body represent a large number of workers in strategic entities both in the private and public sectors. It will not be surprising to see other affiliates of the GTUC moving over to FITUG in the ensuing months. The GTUC has failed to recognize the changing times. It has been unwilling to address issues like democracy and transparency raised by those Unions which were once its affiliates. No doubt, with good leadership, always on the side of workers, democratic and independent of the multinationals, FITUG will grow in the years ahead. It has the possibility of giving genuine leadership and protection to all unions and workers in our country. We extend a hand of solidarity to all workers irrespective of their continued membership to the TUC. We believe in working class unity and solidarity and will continue to forge links with all unions.” Unquote.

As a leading member of FITUG, GAWU enjoins you to spend a period of your Conference’s time to decide on the collective way forward.

Lend also, in this current season of stress and potential disorder, you must spend time too to deliberate on the burning issues of national significance, perhaps national survival: CRIME, ELECTIONS, DISEASE, GOVERNANCE, COST OF LIVING, INDUSTRIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGES to our country’s welfare.

As a responsible trade union, you and your delegates cannot afford to side-step these matters which all ultimately, impact upon the bread-and-butter existence of your members, their families and Guyana as a State.

Embrace too, the hopes on the national horizon while abhorring the ambitious, mischief-makers. You have a full three-day slate.

GAWU wishes your conference full practical success.

Tributes to the sixty (60) year old NAACIE!

Long Live GAWU – NAACIE brotherhood and unity