The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) yesterday (April 13, 2010) inked a long awaited Agreement which allows the Union to become the bargaining agent for the Bridge’s forty (40) person workforce. The Agreement styled the Recognition And the Avoidance And Settlement of Disputes outlines the conduct of relationship between the Union and the Company. Read the rest of this entry »

The principles and sentiments of some messages need not change from year to year even when actual objective circumstances do.

The culmination of the Christian Lenten Season of self-sacrifice and cleansing happens over this week-end into the beginning of the new Holy Week. Easter is upon us and, like Christmas, it envelopes even non-Christians. This is because, with its Resurrection Story after its prophesied Crucifixion, HOPE is offered to mankind, through yet another Faith. Read the rest of this entry »

Almost all of the just over four hundred (400) workers attached to Diamond Estate today (March 30, 2010) staged a spirited picketing exercise in front of the Field Office of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) at Diamond, East Bank Demerara protesting against Guysuco not wanting to award them their Severance Pay as they are no longer required to work permanently at Diamond. The picketing exercise will continue tomorrow. The Diamond cultivation which comprises some 6,000 acres is slated for closure. The Corporation’s Blueprint for Success, also described as the Turnaround Plan, released last April confirmed the cultivation’s closure. Since last year all categories of workers but the cane harvesters were instructed to take up work at the LBI and Enmore locations – miles away from their homes and their regular workplace.  Read the rest of this entry »

For the membership of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and its leadership this is indeed a special occasion. For me, this activity represents the realization of a cherished dream. From the Union’s perspective, the construction of this College is a monumental feat. Its maintenance and use for the Union members would be an undeviating task we from the Union’s Central Executive have set ourselves. This structure and its complete furnishings, again from the Union’s point of view, will reach the princely sum of one hundred and ten million dollars or US $ 550,000.

This we are sure, is a wise investment to promote working class education.

The College building houses, among other things, 2 classrooms which can accommodate 35 and 30 students respectively, a Conference Room, a Recreation Room and a Library. Dormitory facilities are also provided for up to 35 students.

In the overall and varied activities of our Union, education has been a fixture on our agenda. It is a work spanning very many years. We consider it as indispensible for a disciplined organization and the struggles of our workers to understand issues and engage in struggles linked to their basic and immediate interests. Read the rest of this entry »