Dear Editor,
Detractors of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) who are seeking to besmirch the union’s name have continued to project a false picture, especially to the young population. In the late 1980s GAWU clamoured for a 300 per cent increase in pay taking into account the undermining of the workers’ purchasing power which as a consequence of wage increases very much lower than the rate of inflation.
In the latter part of 1989, collective bargaining was restored between the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (Guysuco) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) by the government.
Guysuco was not facilitating any negotiations with GAWU between 1977 and 1988 claiming wage adjustments were being addressed between the government and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). GAWU was able to secure a 22.36 per cent increase out of the negotiations with Guysuco during September-October, 1989. The other 20 per cent increase emanated from Carl Greenidge’s budget earlier in the year.
By the time Dr Cheddi Jagan, the Honorary President of GAWU passed away in 1997, workers’ increase in pay had exceeded 300 per cent as can be discerned from the following:
It is worthy of noting that during Dr Cheddi Jagan’s tenure as President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana sugar workers’ wages increased by 122.35 per cent while the cumulative inflation rate was 59.5 per cent.
Our union has always sought a decent living wage for workers. We do not seek an increase just in tandem with the inflation rate. The wages of ordinary workers are indeed low and they need to have their wages adjusted upward so that they and their families would not have to live close to the poverty line.
Those who wish to recall the percentage increases for which GAWU has struggled over the years, need to take note also of the successes achieved by the union on behalf of the workers.
As conditions change, GAWU makes further representation in keeping with the new realities in order to prevent deterioration in the living standards of workers. This is our duty to our members.
Yours faithfully,
Seepaul Narine
General Secretary
Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union
