Combat marapr2013

CombatIssue#:2 Volume#: 34 Voice of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) March/April, 2013

COMBAT: March/April, 2013 Page One

Editorial :Construction as a product of Destruction We suggest two considerations to illustrate our theme about Construction and Destruction.

At a philosophical level, a case could be made out that there is no such thing as complete failure. For if one does not succeed at something, lessons from the “failure”, the defeat, the loss, the disappointment, must be there to learn from. What went wrong and what to avoid next time are positive pointers from so-called failure. So failure should never be absolute.

Secondly, if one wants a lovely wooden house or piece of furniture, trees must be cut down. From that destruction comes creation.

GAWU, through Combat, will be the supreme opti-mist who sees a silver lining behind the dark clouds of cutting from the Government’s 2013 Estimates – the National Budget. What was done has been “well” done. But the workers – in their thousands – and citizens generally are entitled to be concerned, even scared, over their future in industries and state enter-prises whose financing was chopped.

Right on the heels of the culmination of the consid-eration of the Budget estimates in Parliament, there was the announced agreement for a Budget Tripartite Committee to sit in more structured sessions before future Budgets are finally presented. Hope encourag-ing! GAWU, however, retains the view that the Gov-ernment, any Government, has the responsibility and right to govern, including, etc the fashioning of its yearly Estimates and a programme of developmental works for the nation’s citizens!

So whilst we applaud and welcome institutionalized collaboration, at Budget presentation, it’s the election government’s philosophy, policies and programmes we must hear about. Great if that philosophy includes concern of multiple stakeholders, etc to maximize or even eliminate contention in the House. How accept-able!

So, as we witness post-Budget 2013 governance, as we celebrate such national remembrances as the 175th Anniversary of Indian Immigrant Arrival and full freedom for African Slaves, as we come up with mechanisms for inclusionary accountability, let us see the construction that destruction has spawned.

Combat and GAWU feel confident of a successful second half of 2013.

Sugar industry faces one of worst financial challenges

Five (5) out of seven (7) grinding estates have con-cluded their cane harvesting for the current spring or first crop. The aggregate production as at end of April, 2013 is merely 47,333 tonnes, indicating that the crop’s production, when the two (2) remaining estates cease operations early in the month of May, would be approxi-mately 50,000 tonnes, a significant shortfall of the crop’s target of 71,633 tonnes, which itself is low by any stan-dards. The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc announced in ear-ly March this year (2013) that its production this year would be 240,000 tonnes. Following the poor level of production in the spring crop, the autumn or second crop will commence next July with a production deficit of about 20,000 tonnes. Last March also, a Corporation source indicated un-officially that the industry would fall-short significantly in the attainment of the crop’s target. The source, how-ever, referred to the majority of fields across the industry bearing bountiful crops, which are to be reaped in the second crop. The source assured that at the end of the year, the year’s production would not be lower than by the deficit of the first crop. There was favourable weather in the majority of weeks

in last year’s second crop, as well as in prac-tically all the harvesting weeks in most estates in this current crop. Will the second or au-tumn crop this year enjoy similar weather? Unfavourable weather, even in some months of the harvesting season, could impede the reap-ing of the forthcoming crop. The poor level of sugar production in the cur-rent crop has further deepened the indebted-ness of the Corporation, resulting in delayed payments of salaried employees this month (April, 2013). Presently

outstanding are job evaluation retroactive payments to about 6,000 time-rated workers, due since April 26, 2013. The Corporation needs to secure an adequate crop financing loan from one of the commercial banks. Such transaction is understood to be possible if the Govern-ment guarantees the loan. Too much is at stake to compel the Government to keep the State Corporation afloat, as surely the industry’s im-minent turnaround is certainly attainable, and the large dependence of the country’s economy on the yearly business of the Corporation must be foremost in mind. The lives of at least one-sixth of the country’s popula-tion, directly and indirectly, interact with and depend on the industry’s operations and its finances. Although the sugar production last year was 218,064 tonnes sugar, the Corporation’s revenue was over G$30B. The industry is also the nation’s largest nett foreign exchange earner. The thousands of sugar workers and the Management of the industry, particularly the managerial employees, must now work more collectively to rescue the indus-try noting they will all be victims should the industry’s yearly production remains at its last five (5) years’ aver-age of 230,000 tonnes.

COMBAT: March/April, 2013 Page Two

Kowsilla: Her Memory lives on

On March 06, 2013, at Anna Catherina cemetery, West Coast Demerara, wreaths were placed on the grave of Kowsilla and tributes were offered in her mem-ory. Kowsilla, also known as Alice, was crushed to death on March 06, 1964, when a scab-driven tractor rode upon her as she squatted, in the company of sugar workers, on the bridge leading to the en-trance of the Leonora Factory, protesting the lock-out by the Estate Management of a large number of workers who had been participating in a protest across the coast of Guyana against the imposition by the British Colonial Office of the system of Proportional Representation (PR) to re-place the First-Past-the-Post System in electing representatives to the National Assembly. The protesting workers were also pressing for the recognition of the Guyana Agricultural and General Work-ers Union (GAWU) in the place of the then incumbent Man Power Citizens’ As-sociation (MPCA).

Leaders of GAWU, the Chairman of the

Regional Democratic Council of Region #3, local leaders of the Women’s Pro-gressive Organisation, leaders of Union Branches and rank-and-file union mem-bers participated in the event. The circumstances of Kowsilla’s death endeared her in the hearts of thousands of workers across the country. Fittingly, since her demise, GAWU, on the anni-versary of her death, organizes and con-ducts the gravesite activity.

On the twelfth anniversary of her demise in 1976, GAWU was recognized by the sugar planters as the bargaining agent on behalf of the Field and Factory workers in the sugar industry. Had Kowsilla who was born on April 10, 1919 and killed at aged 45, been alive, she would have cel-ebrated with thousands of sugar workers their recognition victory, which came about after almost three (3) decades of struggle, at times perilous and intimidat-ing, especially to those workers who were active in promoting GAWU, particularly at their workplace.

A section of the attendees at the Kowsilla Commemorative Activity on March 06, 2013 at the Anna Catherina Cemetery

GAWU General Council meets- approves 2013 demands The 52-member General Council of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) met for the first time this year on (Saturday) March 23, 2013 at its quarterly meeting. A central report of some thirty-one (31) pages was presented to the gather-ing by the Union’s General Secretary. The report reflected on the internation-al struggle of the working people and other issues, the poor operations of the sugar industry, issues of sugar workers, the functioning of the various Union bodies, important issues in regard to entities whose employees the Union represents outside of the sugar industry. Discussions on the Report focused on the state of the beleaguered sugar industry. Important suggestions on ag-ronomic matters which can contributed

to the turnaround of the vital industry were proferred by different speakers. The return to flood-fallowing, proper land preparation and layout, the rehir-ing of agricultural experts, the timely and adequate application of fertilizer, amd the maintenance of an effective drainage system were some of the sug-gestions. The meeting also approved a memoran-dum of demands which were submitted to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guy-SuCo) to commence negotiations with respect to wage/salary and other fringe issues for this year (2013). In approving the claims, members took into account the various proposals submitted by the Union’s Branches and the perilous state of the industry.

GAWU observes 37-years of Sugar Industry recognition Thirty-seven (37) years have passed on February 27, 2013 since the Guyana Ag-ricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) became the duly recognized bargaining agent on behalf of the thou-sands of sugar workers employed in the fields and factories of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo). For almost three (3) decades, sugar workers under the leadership of GAWU battled with the Sugar Planters which for many years re-sisted recognising the Union .

In observing this significant event, the

Union branches in the sugar industry arranged public indoor events which re-flected on some of the actual battles and the successes and setbacks towards ob-taining union recognition.

For many young sugar workers especial-ly, the events provided much education of some of the sacrifice their predeces-sors, as workers, endured for GAWU to become the workers’ bargaining agent in the place of the Man Power Citizens As-sociation (MPCA).

GAWU pays tribute to Hugo Chavez Hugo Chavez Frias, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela finally, succumbed to cancer on Tuesday, March 05, at the still youthful age of 58. An out-standing and great political warrior has passed on. He will now join that group of revolutionary leaders and freedom fight-ers who have embodied the hopes and aspirations of the poor, oppressed and working people, especially of the global South. With such a loss, profound grief has befallen the Venezuelan masses, but the pain will also be felt throughout the continent and beyond. In President Chavez’s death, Guyana has lost not sim-ply a good neighbour, but one whose vision we understood and empathized with. President Chavez had an all-too-brief political career; yet, in that short span of time, he gave inspiring leadership to his people, putting Venezuela’s wealth, es-pecially that accrued from oil, to uplift largely, the poverty-stricken of his coun-try. He made an indelible mark in the policies he implemented in various sec-tors, not least among which were health, education, housing, infrastructure, etc. He followed pro-people policies, amd was not hesitating to nationalize foreign-owned companies which would enhance Venezuela’s development, or subscribe to and take a leadership role in projects like Petrosur, ALBA, UNASUR, which earned him the wrath of the forces of reaction. President Chavez’s leadership was cou-rageous where others took the path of subservience to those who would want to maintain hegemony of the region, Chavez stood with head held high. He was an an-ti-imperialist and stood up to the machi-nations of the US Empire primarily. But, like a true people’s leader, he survived a US-supported coup and several severe destablisation attempts against him and his government. He survived, too, be-cause the people stood by and with him. Hugo Chavez came into politics via the military, to which he belonged. In itself, this was significant, considering that im-

portant sections of the Latin American military establishment were influenced by the US or trained at the infamous ‘School of the Americas’, and in several instances in history acted as proxy forces of the US and its allies, doing their bidding. There, in Venezuela, under Hugo Chavez’s lead-ership, we saw the rare phenomenon of a military force imbued with a pro-people and anti-imperialist character. The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has seen Presi-dent Hugo Chavez as a friend of the op-pressed and working people, as a com-rade, an indefatigable anti-imperialist and revolutionary. We embrace him as such. The stature he acquired due to his policies was larger than those who sought his demise. GAWU hereby expresses its sincere con-dolences to the family and people of the late Venezuela leader, President Hugo Chavez of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Hugo Chavez, drawing inspiration and sustenance from the great Hero and Lib-erator Simon Bolivar, showed a deter-mination to liberate his people from the poverty imposed on them by an elite rich. At this time, we also wish to reiterate ex-pressions of appreciation for the support given to Guyana, the Caribbean, the rest of South America, and the poor of the USA. In this moment of grief, GAWU is confi-dent that Chavez’s comrades-in-arms and his millions of supporters will be resil-ient, and gather the strength to continue his work along the progressive pathways he championed and symbolised. GAWU is confident that though President Hugo Chavez has passed on, his dreams for the realization of “21st century Socialism” in Venezuela will not be crushed.

May he Rest in PeaceViva Chavez’s Vision!Long Live Guyana-Venezuela Friend-ship!

COMBAT: March/April, 2013 Page Three

GAWU celebrates Dr Jagan’s life and work

The seven (7) branches of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in the sugar industry, like in previous years, organized events during the month of March, 2013 to remember aspects of the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan, who was born and died in the month of March. The activities attracted reasonable at-tendances, and saw skits, poem recitals and singing being conducted by sugar workers and members of the community. Each activity before the cultural aspect was preceded by a short address on some aspects of Dr Jagan’s life and work. Dr Cheddi Jagan, whose political life spanned over five (5) decades, co-found-ed the People’s Progressive Party (PPP); and as its leader, tirelessly advanced the cause of adult suffrage, of Guyana’s inde-pendence from colonial rule, and the res-toration of democracy to Guyana, among

other things. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Guiana Industri-al Workers Union (GIWU) in 1946, the forerunner of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), and GAWU itself in 1961. As a politician and trade unionist, Dr Ja-gan embraced the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, which for him was a guide to action and analysis. Dr Jagan and his People’s Progressive Party made a sterling contribution to raising the political con-sciousness of the Guyanese people, and they were on the forefront of the anti-colonial battles and progressive develop-ment policies in our country. The long-lasting systemic crisis which currently engulfs the capitalist system, sixteen (16) years after Dr Jagan’s death vindicated his advocacy for change of the socio-economic capitalist formation

Dr Cheddi Jagan about to address a GAWU meeting

GAWU congratulates newly-elected Ven-zuelan President Nicholas Maduro The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) takes this op-portunity to congratulate and support you on your assumption of the Office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

In a span of just over a decade, your predeces-sor Commander Hugo Chavez with his United Socialist Party begun to usher in deep-seated so-cio-economic changes re-sulting in significant im-provement in the lives of the working-people and poor. President Chavez had an all too brief politi-cal career, yet in that his-torically brief period, he gave inspiring leadership to his people, putting Venezuela’s wealth to uplift his people and see steady development of the country.

With your election victory and your as-cendancy to the high Office of President of Venezuela, the mantle of leadership has fallen on your shoulders. We have full confidence that you will continue to traverse the path blazed by Comrade Hugo Chavez not only in Venezuela and for the Venezuelan people but also to give principled and inspiring leadership

in our continent and beyond.

Your experience as a former leader of SITRAMECA trade union will undoubt-edly serve you well in this regard.

The GAWU is also extremely concerned over the violent destabili-zation activities that some interests, domestic and foreign, in Venezuela now have resorted to, to derail the democratic process in your country. Happily, we take note that they were aborted, but they portend challenges to waylay the process towards 21st Cen-tury Socialism.

Please be assured, Mr President, of our continuing solidar-ity in your development process and in the face of reaction’s destabilization at-tempts.

Your victory is certainly a victory of the democratic forces and the masses of Venezuela. With you at the helm, we are sure, the rich legacy of the Bolivarian revolution in this part of our planet will continue.

Forward to greater achievements and more shining victories.

GAWU pays tribute to Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) joins in the widespread mourning on the passing of Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud. May his family, congregations and col-leagues all find solace in the realization that Pan-dit “Reep” lived a full life dedicated to public in Guyana.

Truly, GAWU believes that Reepu Daman Per-saud was nationally re-nowned, especially for spiritual guidance, and as a teacher to thou-sands of Hindus. He was also an adept PPP Parliamentarian who served in the National Assembly as Deputy Speaker, and in numerous Parliamentary Com-mittees, and became the Minister of Agriculture after the 1992 democratic National and Regional Elections. Cde Reepu Daman Persaud had the distinc-

tion of being one of the longest serving members of the Guyana Parliament, which he representation on many occa-

sions overseas.

GAWU’s leadership worked with him on many occasions, seek-ing his experience and knowledge in the field of agriculture and or-ganization. During his stint as Minister of Ag-riculture, he interacted with the Union and its thousands of members in the sugar industry and the welfare of work-

ers. GAWU joins with all Guyanese in saying farewell to a Stalwart of the Na-tion – A man of the People, who served both their spiritual and material needs.

Farewell, Panditji and comrade

Meet your Branch Executives

The Union, in keeping with its Consti-tution, organises Branch Conferences at each Union Branch annually. At these Conferences, the work of the Branch dur-ing the preceding year is reviewed. The Conferences also elect new Branch Com-mittees, which are charged with adminis-tering the affairs of the Branch for anoth-er year. Since the commencement of the year, a number of such Conferences were completed, and we provide you with the composition of the newly elected Com-mittees:

Albion EstateChairman: Vimen Armogan, Vice Chairman: Hernie Parks, Secretary:

Michael Inderdat, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer: Bevon Sinclair; Organising Secretary: Ganga Persaud Shivdyal; and Committee Members: Victor McKenzie, Vishnu Nandalall, Arjune Verasammy, Krisendat Pooran, Ram Persaud Singh, Ingrid George, Nola Thomas, Nazaaz Yu-suf, Cranston Dey, Jiterndra Roopchand and Sandra Permaul

Demerara Timbers Limited Chairman: Shoban Bobb Semple, Vice Chairman: Derick Tony, Secretary: Ce-cilene Thomas, Assistant Secretary: Ha-zel Benn; and Committee Members: Edi Willison, Anita Croft, Almond Larose, Desmond Fraser and Margaret Michael

COMBAT: March/April, 2013 Page Four

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From Growing Profit to Growing Food: Challenging Corporate Rule

By Tory Field and Beverly Bell Just outside of the small town of Maumelle, Arkansas sits your run-of-the-mill American strip mall. And as in so many other box store hubs, a Walmart dominates the landscape. But something is a shade different about this one; its big, looming letters are not the standard blue. These letters, in a new green hue, spell out “Walmart Neigh-borhood Market.” These “neighborhood markets” are a tactic in Walmart’s conquest of the grocery industry. The world’s biggest retail store now captures more than a fourth of the domestic grocery market. We are bombarded and manipulated by corporate name brands every day. A Coca-Cola annual report some years back stated, “All of us in the Coca-Cola fam-ily wake up each morning knowing that every single one of the world’s 5.6 billion people will get thirsty that day… If we make it impossible for these 5.6 billion people to escape Coca-Cola…, then we assure our future success for many years to come. Doing anything else is not an option.” “Impossible” to “escape” sounds daunting, downright creepy. Yet people are escaping, in droves, a food system that is more obsessed with money than with sustenance. The U.S. move towards industrialization in the 19th century ushered in major changes in agriculture. The fo-cus shifted to creating an abundance of affordable food for a growing population, while simultaneously reduc-ing the number of people laboring in the fields, in order to free them up for work in the factories. The need for more food with less labor meant more mechanization, and therefore bigger farms. The emergence of vast farms required that food travel long distances, and went hand-in-hand with the creation of companies to transport, package, and process the food. Over the years, food has become increasingly com-modified, that is, converted from nourishment to a mass-marketed consumer product. These days, an ever-shrinking number of mega-corporations controls an ever-expanding amount of food production, from seeds to equipment, from chemical inputs to processing. Con-sider these statistics: Just four companies own approximately 84 percent of the U.S. beef market; four firms control 66 percent of the pork-packing market, and another four control 58

percent of poultry processing. Four companies own 43 per-cent of the world’s commercial seed market; three companies control 90 percent of the global grain trade; and four compa-nies own 48 percent of grocery retailers.

Bust the Trust The global movement for food justice and food sovereignty seeks to bust the corporate takeover of our food system, which has been accomplished with the complicity of our gov-ernments. Below are a few re-cent campaigns and victories in the U.S., where farmers, food justice activists, and consumers are uniting to challenge cor-porate rule. In one strategy to reduce corporate control of the milk industry, fourteen states have

been pushed to allow raw milk sales at locations off the farm, and nine states are considering bills of a similar nature. Milk that is produced and sold locally in small batches doesn’t require the lengthy shelf life or, there-fore, the pasteurization process that has become status quo for industrialized milk. Most often sold directly off the farm, raw milk creates a more direct link between farmers and consumers, cuts out corporate middle peo-ple, and provides farmers with a larger percentage of the consumer dollar. And any raw-milk lover will swear it tastes better. Vernon Hershberger, a Wisconsin dairy farmer who was charged with operating without a license and four criminal misdemeanors for supplying raw milk to a buy-ers’ club, said, “[T]his is about the fundamental right of farmers and consumers to engage in peaceful, private, mutually consenting agreements for food without addi-tional oversight.” At least nine states have established some legal re-straints to keep corporations from buying and owning farms. In Pennsylvania, the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund has helped individual towns pass and defend local ordinances banning corporate farming in their communities. The 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission prohibits government restrictions on political spending by corporations. Big agribusiness as well as all other corporate industries now have even greater sway over the political process. Com-munities around the country, led by organizations like Public Citizen, Public Campaign, Move to Amend, and United for the People, have introduced local resolutions calling on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United. As of March 2013, eleven states and more than 120 local municipalities or cities had passed these resolutions. Organizations like the Program on Corporations, Law, and Democracy (POCLAD) have popularized the need to eliminate ‘corporate personhood,’ not just in agricul-ture but in society in general. Corporate personhood gives corporations the same constitutional rights as hu-man beings under the 14th Amendment, which means they are entitled to due process, equal protection, and free speech. POCLAD has been doing research, hosting

workshops, and publishing books and articles to spark conversations about the effects of corporate power on our governance, lives and the planet. Mass mobilization for Proposition 37, which would have required food manufacturers to place labels on any food containing GMOs in California, pushed the issue of GMOs into general public concern. Though the mea-sure was defeated (with millions of corporate dollars working against it), the spike in awareness led by groups like Just Label It, Organic Consumers Association, Yes on 37 as well as communities across the country, paves the path for continued advocacy. GMO labelling laws are now in the works in Washington state and Vermont. And the grocery giant Whole Foods has agreed to label all GMO products by 2018. Significant food chain worker victories have been ef-fective in checking corporate power and pushing for fair wages and workers’ rights. Just in 2012, after targeted campaigns, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers pres-sured Trader Joe’s to sign a Fair Food Agreement, com-mitting to higher wages for farmworkers, basic rights, and a monitoring system to ensure follow-through. Chi-potle signed the agreement a few months afterward, be-coming the 11th corporation to succumb to the CIW’s pressure. Meanwhile, Brandworkers International won a significant settlement from Flaum Appetizing for un-paid wages, after a joint campaign through Focus on the Food Chain. And the Food Chain Workers Alliance and Restaurant Opportunities Centers United continue to mobilize for Congress to raise standard and tipped min-imum wage by pushing the Fair Minimum Wage Act.

Picking tomatoes in Immokalee, Florida, home of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), which has won several victories championing

fair food, and checking corporate power

WFTU: 1,426 billionaires vs 80% of the global population living with $10 a day! While the 1,426 billionaires of the world are celebrat-ing their rankings at the Forbes Magazine’s 2013 List of Billionaires, having gathered a total net worth of $5.4 trillion, an actual $800 billion increase since last year; let us remind ourselves that these riches could not have been accumulated without the most vital means of pro-duction: the labour force. No brilliant idea could have been implemented, no new product could have been produced, no machine could have been built, no means of transport could have moved without the workers. Without the sweat and blood of the workers in the ships, the mines, in the construction sites and the industries, nothing would happen. These billionaires are only appropriating the product of the social work, and exploiting the natural resources that belong to the People. However, while these billionaires are celebrating in their jets and swimming pools, there is an 80% of the population that lives with under $10 a day, with actually 50% of the population living with $2,50! Many millions of them live in slums, are still illiterate, lack sufficient ac-cess to clean water and adequate medical services. These billionaires and many more millionaires are fighting their part in the class struggle with their hard efforts to control the governments, the IMF, the World Bank by organizing wars and by trying to corrupt and manipulate the trade union movement. Let us fight our part with more determination, strength-en the class-oriented trade union movement, and grow our struggles for the satisfaction of the contemporary needs of the workers and the popular strata.

COMBAT: March/April, 2013 Page Five

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Arab Spring Breakers: 50,000 Gather in Tunisia to Plan People-Powered Economy

By Signe Predmore The springtime weather was hot and breezy as 50,000 people converged in the Tunisian capital of Tunis last week to discuss topics like debt, the Arab Spring, and drones. These were among the seemingly infinite variety of issues debated at the Thirteenth annual World Social Forum. The forum began in Brazil in 2001, and is held in a non-Western country every other year. The forum has emerged as a counterpoint to the World Economic Fo-rum in Davos, Switzerland, where elite business and political leaders meet each year to discuss global issues from a largely corporate perspective. In contrast, the World Social Forum is an open space for social movement participants, civil society, and in-dividuals who are critical of imperialism and corporate-led global capitalism to network and exchange ideas on an international level. Attendees have traditionally questioned the structural adjustment policies advocated by institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, in which countries are asked to balance their budgets by slash-ing spending, usually on items like the pay and pension of public employees. While the banks claim that these policies will lead to more prosperity, critics counter that they have more often led developing nations to accumu-late crippling debts. Flag-waving groups chanting “Free! Free! Palestine!” and tents filled with celebratory dancers dotted the cam-pus of El Manar University, where the forum was held.

Getting in touch with the Arab Spring Forum organizers chose Tunis as the host site this year in order to tap the energy of the grassroots mobiliza-tions in the Middle East, which overthrew dictatorial regimes in several countries and continue to struggle against them in others. Increasing the involvement of Arab activists has also been a goal of the forum for sev-eral years, according to a written statement released by organizers. The Arab Spring was not “just something we read on

Facebook,” M e n o n said. Nearly e ve r yone , from the lo-cal hosts to the foreign v i s i t o r s , seemed to be thrilled with the selection of Tunisia as host. Arbia O u e s l a t i , a young Tu n i s i a n woman rep-r e s e n t i n g A T A D E , a local or-ganization concerned

with development and energy, saw the forum as a chance to counter negative perceptions of the country. “It makes me so sad when embassies warn their citi-zens that it is not safe to travel here,” she said. “This will be proof that our country is safe, and also that we are a land of dialogue. People are worried about radical Islam coming to power in Tunisia, but I say it will never hap-pen, because Tunisians don’t accept extremists.” Meena Menon, of Focus on the Global South—a group that promotes social change in Asia, Latin America and Africa—and a former member of the forum’s Interna-tional Council, was excited that participants from other developing countries had the opportunity to interact with the Tunisian people. “Tunisia is the best thing that’s happened to the forum in my view,” she told a panel au-dience. Bringing foreign activists to Tunisia helped to show that the Arab Spring was not “just something we read on Facebook,” she said, but “something that was done by real living, breathing people—and people who aren’t even trained in mobilization.” The forum usually results in a huge manifestation of lo-cal civil society wherever it is held, and this year was no exception. The Organizing Committee estimated that around a quarter of the over 4,500 groups registered were Tunisian. Many of these groups are working to en-sure that the goals of the Arab Spring revolution here remain in focus. Many were upset that the current Tunisian and Egyp-tian governments continue to negotiate with neoliberal institutions such as the International Monetary Fund. Of these goals, democracy and fair elections were probably the most urgent. Prominent secular politician Chokri Belaid was killed by unidentified assassins in early February, provoking public outcry. His memory was honoured widely at the forum in forms that ranged from T-shirts and posters bearing his image to a mo-ment of silence at the closing General Assembly to hon-our both Belaid and the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. While failures of the Tunisian and Egyptian govern-

ments to accomplish the goals of the revolutions that brought them to power were a key concern, forum par-ticipants remained hopeful that the populations in these countries will continue to hold their Government ac-countable. In one workshop, Nadeem Mansour of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights spoke of the more than 4,000 protests over financial issues that took place last year in Egypt. “Large-scale social resistance, although it has not yet crystallized into a new economic plan, forces any gov-ernment that might come to power to rethink current economic policy,” he said.

Linking up personal and national debt Many participants felt that a renewed focus on debt was a crucial piece of that process of rethinking. Sandra Nurse from New York City came to the forum as an in-dividual, but was thinking about what she could bring back to her local chapter of Strike Debt, an Occupy-de-rived movement that works to “build popular resistance to all forms of debt.” She said she was particularly inter-ested in how Strike Debt might be able to evolve from its current focus on individual debt and forge a connection with groups that work to address the social impact of national debt. Nurse said the group chose to focus on debt because it’s a personal experience and motivates people deeply. “But now our challenge is to really expand the analysis and connect personal debt to sovereign debt.” National debt was also on the minds of several Middle Eastern participants. Many were upset that the current Tunisian and Egyptian governments continue to negoti-ate with neoliberal institutions such as the International Monetary Fund. “One of the main challenges we face now is foreign debt,” said one participant from Tunisia. “I cannot understand how a revolution can compromise on this issue. The current regimes should immediately stop paying the foreign debt.”

Concern over drones The seeds of a new global anti-drone movement seemed to emerge in a workshop led by U.S. feminist anti-war group CODEPINK. Participants from multiple countries expressed concern about their governments’ interest in acquiring drones. Even in cases where drones are only being considered for border-maintenance surveillance purposes, work-shop attendees said this would ultimately lead to in-creased violence and repression of immigrants. “Afghanistan has really been the testing ground for NATO countries in terms of drone usage,” said CODE-PINK co-founder Medea Benjamin. “Now they have a taste for it, and everyone wants to have the latest tech-nology. None of the militaries want to be left behind. So we see this as the beginning of a global arms race in drone warfare.” Many of the workshop attendees stayed after the ses-sion was over to discuss organizing an international citizens’ movement to advocate for global regulation on drones. E-mails were exchanged that very night in an effort to start planning a global gathering in a European city for the fall. One of the early tasks of the group will be to identify potentially sympathetic governments to work with.

The World Social Forum in session

COMBAT: March/April, 2013 Page Six

55 years of May Day as a National Holiday in Guyana This year (2013) marks fifty-five (55) years since May Day has been made a Na-tional Holiday in Guyana. In recognition of this COMBAT excerpts this, passage from Ashton Chase’s renowned book, “A History of Trade Unionism in Guyana – 1900 to 1961”:

May Day demonstrations were inau-gurated by the BG Labour Union in or about 1930. The demonstrations took the form of a march from the Bourda Green to Parade Ground. The march headed south through Albouystown, then north through Kingston. The marchers were ac-companied by a band(s) of music playing such popular tunes as “Tipperary”. Ban-ners and placards were carried, some set-ting out the demands of the Union. Throughout the 30s, these demonstra-tions were not very well attended. Many workers and tenants for whom the La-bour Union was struggling often stood by and looked on in curiosity or amusement rather than join in and participate. To many, these demonstrations, led by Mr Hubert Critchlow, appeared like an an-nual exhibition of cranks who had noth-ing else to do. The demonstrations in these years were most colourful. Women were smartly at-tired in red blouses and white skirts. The men wore red shirts and white pants with red strips on the outward flanks of the pants. Many demonstrators also wore im-pressive red rosettes and the Union but-tons. To keep the demonstrators in order, there was a small contingent of union stewards who wore arm bands. Messrs Howard and Harding, veteran Union of-ficials, organised and directed the stew-ards. But the bulk of demonstrators and followers were in ordinary working clothes, many barefooted and in tattered garments. In the late 30s and early 40s some joined the demonstration in cabs. It was an annual feature for a long time of Mr Jack Hylton to head a group of co-medians in a cab. For about two years, Jack himself rode a house to the dem-onstration. Then there was a formidable array of cyclists; and from the early 50s lorries and later on cars carrying demon-strators, joined the celebration. The demonstrators were always accom-panied by a squad of policemen, includ-ing the mounted branch. It was a feature of these Labour Union demonstrations to distribute thousands of handbills to onlookers and sympathis-ers all along the route. Opportunity was also taken to put an army of collectors with red tins and cups to solicit dona-tions from people all along the route, on the roads, in their house and in the shops. For many years, Mr Emil Austin who, for more than two decades, was the official sick visitor of the Labour Union always turned, in a good account.

Around the mid-40s, the fund raising was boosted with a Fair at the Promenade

Gardens every May Day. On behalf of the Union, it was managed by impresario Mr N. Critchlow. At the May Day parades sponsored by the Labour Union, resolutions were passed at the Parade Ground meetings. The resolu-tions touched on many subjects, politi-cal as well as industrial. Rent restriction; unemployment and assistance for the unemployed; non-contributory old age pension scheme; rental purchase hous-ing schemes; adult suffrage; abolition of night work at bakeries; workmen’s com-pensation; shorter working hours gen-erally; and with particular reference to nurses and domestic servants, increased wages; West Indies and Guiana Federa-tion; education; hospitalization and sani-tation indicate some of the subjects dealt with. The practice was for these resolu-tions to be forwarded to the Government ,and they were sometimes followed up by deputations. It took many years after a resolution was passed before it bore fruit. The Labour Union was the undisputed sponsor of May Day celebrations right up to 1946. Some of the Unions that were registered up to then joined in the parades, but under the banner and lead-ership of the BG Labour Union. With the reformation of the TUC in 1944, the feeling arose that such an important celebration should be sponsored by the TUC on behalf of all the Unions. There was considerable pressure between 1946 and 1948 for the TUC to take over, but the Labour Union resisted this. It had both a financial interest in continuing the celebrations on its own, and it was not impressed with the TUC’s attempts at organizing in other spheres. It felt that the TUC did not have the capacity or the capability to make a success of May Day. Eventually, after a dual celebration in 1950, agreement was reached for the TUC to take over the celebrations from May Day 1951, but for a couple of years thereafter, both the Labour Union and the TUC, made collections. Finally, the whole celebration was taken over by the TUC which has since carried it on every year. When the TUC took over in 1951, the celebrations were heralded with a broad-cast message by the Officer Administer-ing the Government. That May Day should be declared a public holiday was one of Mr Critchlow’s pet subjects. After the TUC’s ‘take over’, it took up the ‘May Day Holiday’ cud-gel and passed resolutions to this effect at several demonstrations. On the 12th February 1958, the Legislative Council approved an amendement to a motion by Mr R. Tello, TUC General Secretary, that May Day be declared public holiday in substitution for an existing public holi-day. The PPP Government declared 1st May 1958 a public holiday’ and ever since then May Day has been a public holiday – Empire Day, 24th May, having being scrapped as from then.”

Centerary Anniverary of Rose Hall shooting observed

Fifteen (15) sugar workers who were shot fatally on March 13, 1913 at Rose Hal Estate, Canje were recognized on March 26, 2013 with a wreath-laying and tribute ceremony aparently for the first time since their death. Among those paying tribute to the fallen workers were the country’s Executive President Don-ald Ramotar, the Regional Chairman of Region#6, and relatives of those killed, among others. The workers were all shot by the colo-nial police, on the high bridge leading to the Rose Hall Estate Administrative Of-fice, because they were protesting against the Estate’s decision that they must en-gage in cane planting. The majority of the workers did not agree to comply with the Manager’s decision. Seven (7) men were served summonses to attend court. The Magistrate required them to pay the cost of the summons, but the poor workers could only pay the cost in installments, which the Magistrate re-jected. The problem escalated from this point. During continued protest, fifteen (15) workers – 14 men and 1 woman – were shot by police. The dead were: Badri, 26; Bholay, 33; Durga, 72; Gafur, 27; Jugai, 30; Juggoo, 37; Hulas, 25; Lalji, 45; Motey Khan, 26; Nibur, 75; Roopan, 25; Sadulla, 23; Sarjoo, 21; Sohan, 33; and the lone female, Gobindei, 32; and forty-one (41) were injured. The bodies of those killed were trans-ported in jute bags on donkey carts to the New Amsterdam Hospital. “These are the people who paid the ul-timate price because they resisted what they deemed to be oppressive and offen-sive at the time…and anytime you stand up to the masters in those days, you had no chance—you were either injured or killed”, said Region Six Chairman David Armogan. Veteran educator Mr. Phillip Deobha-jan outlined the historical aspect of the

massacre. Historian Fred Sukdeo stated that Rose Hall Estate has a unique history in Guyana, and he outlined five histori-cal attributes: Rose Hall as a community which started the 1763 Berbice Slave Re-bellion up the Canje River; the Rose Hall Riot in 1913; the Rose Hall Estate clarifier incident in 1970, whereby several work-ers met their deaths; vesting of Bookers Guiana to the people of Guyana at the Canje Welfare Centre in May, 1976; and the first meeting to establish a heritage site at Plantation Highbury to commem-orate the first arrival of East Indian Im-migrants to British Guiana. President Donald Ramotar said it was important to note that the workers “made that ultimate sacrifice, and we still re-member them today, 100 years later. They who pulled the trigger—those responsi-ble for this terrible deed—have all been forgotten; no one remembers them.” The event, he stated, brought to an end the hated system of indentureship. “That is what is significant.” The Guyanese leader said that a large part of the history of Guyana has been the history of sugar. From the time indentureship replaced slavery, he added, the workers played the most central role in transforming Guy-ana, “and that was only natural, because sugar was then ‘king’—the main pillar of the economy”. He recalled the struggle in Leonora in 1938 that finally saw trade union-ism entering the industry and spreading throughout Guyana. “They were fighting to defend then their economic rights and for independence.” The bulk of that struggle, he stated, was in the sugar estate. “1948 at Enmore was the beginning of the end of colonialism in our country—All those struggles took place in the estates themselves and….we will always have to pay tribute to sugar workers and the role that they played”.

President Donald Ramotar lays a wreath at the Rose Hall Martyrs’ Monument site

COMBAT: March/April, 2013 Page Seven

GAWU President attends WFTU Presidential Council Meeting

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), through its President Cde Komal Chand, par-tipated in the 7th Presidential Council meeting of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) in Lima, Peru on March 07 - 08, 2013. The meeting attracted Trade Union leaders from 31 countries in 5 continents. The WFTU meeting discussed the Report of the Organi-zation’s activities during 2012, the developments in the global economy and its main strategic sectors, as well as their impact on the lives and working conditions of the working people apart from formulating an action plan of the WFTU for the year 2013. The work of the Presidential Council Meeting began on March 07, 2013 in a massive opening ceremony which paid tribute to the President of Venezuela, Rafael Hugo Chavez Frias, and expressed solidarity of the WFTU affiliates with the Venezuelan people. GAWU’s President, in his participa-tion delivered the following address:-

“On behalf of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), I extend warmest greetings of solidarity to all members of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Presidential Council. I also take this opportunity to express cordial greetings to the working people of Peru, even as I express my Union’s fraternal embrace to the General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP). Our meeting, comrades, at this time, affords us an op-portunity, yet again, to give recognition to the latest positive developments in Latin America and the Ca-ribbean. The recent electoral victories of progressive forces in several countries are clear manifestations not only of the popularity of the respective leaders, but of the people’s support for policies that veer away from the neo-liberal order. The people-oriented policies and pro-gressive trends in this continent, pursued with courage and determination, fortify our hopes and struggles for deep-seated change, for a just global order. As it did with Cuba, that trail-blazer of revolutionary practices, for over fifty (50) years now, US imperialism is not willing to let go of its deadly grip on the continent. Indeed, where it can, that hold – political, economic and military – is strengthened. We note with concern its ef-forts to undermine and reverse the tide of independent and progressive developments in the region. We are not oblivious to the US role and support of coups in Haiti, Honduras and Paraguay, and its attempts at destablisa-tion of several countries though local agents, with finan-cial support doled out by its international agencies. In passing, let us also observe, once more, the ease with which it abandons basic democratic norms and human rights to advance its retrogressive objectives. Despite these efforts, the progressive trajectory endures and is being strengthened by the rise of new institutions like the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and others which are intended to forge “greater” co-operation and promote mutually beneficial economic and trade links.

Comrades, at conclusion of our last meeting, just over a year ago, we identified three (3) main facets of workers’ reality and life:-1. The deepening of the capital-ist crisis together with an effort of the ruling classes to transfer the bur-den to the working class and other groups; 2. Increasing aggressiveness of imperialism through wars and inva-sions; and3. An intensification of strug-gles by the working-class and other groups to protect and defend their gains, benefits and rights.

Today, one year on, the situation remains the same, if not worse. The world continues to be gripped by the economic crisis. This year, world unemployment could hit record levels and continue ris-ing until 2017, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In its annual Global Employment Trends report, the ILO forecasts that jobless numbers around the world will increase by 5.1 million in 2013 to 202 million people, topping 2009’s record of 198 million. The trends examined in the ILO report expose the fraudulent claim by many neo-liberal economists that “an economic recovery has begun”. On the contrary, a systemic crisis of the world capitalist economy is de-stroying jobs – particularly for the world’s youth – and plunging greater numbers of people into poverty. The austerity measures of governments around the world are further exacerbating this process. The ILO further reveals that there are currently some 397 million workers living in extreme poverty, and there is an additional 472 million who cannot meet their basic needs on a regular basis. This means that 12 per cent of the world’s population lives in families where at least one member is working but they still struggle to gain ac-cess to decent housing, food and other necessities. The statistics outline that the policies applied by gov-ernments of developed countries, whether conservative or social democratic, are unable to solve the problems which confront them. Today, under conditions of deep capitalist crisis, under conditions of decay of the capital-ist system, the bold struggles of workers, of poor peas-ants, of the youth, are providing optimistic hope and pointing the way towards changes of the system of capi-talism. In this regard, we emphasize that their struggles for specific and immediate goals cannot be delinked from the wider struggles in defense of freedom, democ-racy, for social justice, against war, and for environmen-tal concerns. Comrades, as we meet here today, we must be mindful of the increasing aggressiveness of imperialism. France’s military aggression in Mali is only the latest expression of a renewed scramble for Africa being undertaken with military support coming from the continent’s former co-lonialist overlords; and, significantly, the US Empire. Af-rica, is again becoming – more and more – a continent for imperialism’s military adventures. The atrocities and war crimes we have seen and are seeing in the Middle East and South Asia and North Africa are beginning to spread to other particularly mineral-rich countries of the African continent. We cannot fail to note that the French invasion of Mali is taking place under the newly-elected “Socialist” Presi-dent Hollande, possibly encouraged by the former Presi-dent Sarkozy, who oversaw France playing a forceful role in the devastation of Libya, in the course of which the leader, Gadaffi, his children and grand children were killed. Already, from Mali, civilian deaths, including children, are being reported. The “War-on-Terrorism” and threats of “Jihadists” and “Al-Qaida” are again being used as justification and the

pretext for military operations. And, under cover of this invasion, Africom, we are told, has now established a drone base in neighbouring Niger. With such kind of developments, prospects for eco-nomic progress and tackling grinding poverty in this continent are dim. Neo-colonialism, its hallmark char-acterized by plunder and control of the continent’s bountiful resources, is deepening its roots. Africa today demands our greater attention; and the WFTU, I am sure, will not hesitate to mount solidar-ity activities as the situation worsens. We denounce im-perialism! We denounce imperialist wars and schemes against peoples! Comrades, as we see, the world situation continues to be grim. Austerity seems to be the standard answer that the rul-ing classes of the developed capitalist countries have come up with to the ongoing economic and financial crises. Some analysts are more often giving gloomy pre-dictions of what awaits us ahead; some of which shall not be dismissed, given the dire realities we are witness-ing. Ecological and environmental disasters are wide-spread, and are occurring more frequently. War talk together with arms purchasing and armaments’ devel-opments and threats of cyberwars are continuing apace. Capitalism/imperialism, with its obsession for resources – especially other peoples’ resources – to feed its insa-tiable hunger for super profits, is largely responsible for the threatening and troubling world situation. Clearly, the necessity for profound global changes has become urgent. Against this backdrop, the rising struggles of working people and youth, mainly of Europe and North Ameri-ca, against austerity and foreclosures, and the resistance to imperialist wars and neo-colonialist plunder must be seen as very significant components of our world of to-day. Once again, history has called on the working class and its allies and the oppressed to be the harbingers of change. Those who are in the trenches and frontlines of the sharpening class struggles deserve our full support and solidarity. That is a priority and immediate task before us – a task for our individual unions as well as our col-lective organization, which is the WFTU. The ruling classes are not sluggish in the face of these growing challenges to their anti-people policies and the capitalist system. As we are seeing in Greece and Spain, other countries too, their response is brutal and repres-sive. In North America and the United Kingdom, sur-veillance which erodes freedoms and privacy are on the ascendancy; and in the US, the President is accused of using robots to assassinate US citizens, while using such machines for spying purposes domestically. It is in this context also that we need to see the mushrooming of fascist organizations and groups in several countries, and the real threat they pose to the workers’ struggles and the welfare of immigrants. The WFTU Presidential Council must continue to re-flect on the challenges facing humanity today. The situa-tion is dynamic. Being abreast with the evolving condi-tions will certainly help us to determine effective tactics and strategies to advance the struggles of the world’s ex-ploited and oppressed. Poverty, inequality, high levels of unemployment, plun-der of developing countries, and unjust wars are very much with us. Only a path of consistent, determined and selfless struggle, with a scientific theory as a guide and with allies, can ensure the realization of our vision and goals to achieve a peaceful world, where each indi-vidual can live a meaningful life with full development of his or her personality and talents, and with the guar-antee of human and civil rights in a democratic frame-work of society. There is much work ahead of us; many challenges to face and many battles to fight. The WFTU is called upon and cast in the role to lead. We can do it.

COMBAT is a publication of the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU)59 High Street & Wights Lane, Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana, S.A.Tel: 592-227-2091/2; 225-5321 , 223-6523 Fax: 592-227-2093

Email: [email protected] Website: www.gawu.net

Budget 2013 at a glance

Key Achievements in 2012• Real gross domestic product (GDP)

grew by 4.8 per cent in 2012, a sev-enth consecutive year of positive growth.

• The rice industry grew by 5 percent to 422,057 tonnes, the highest ton-nage produced in any one year in the industry’s entire history.

• Gold production expanded by 20.8 percent to 438,645 ounces, the high-est recorded in the entire history of the gold industry, excluding Omai production.

• Bauxite industry recorded growth in value-added of 12.5 percent, with production of 2,213,972 tonnes.

• Export earnings expanded by 23.6 percent to US$1.5 billion.

• External reserves amounted to US$862.2 million, the highest end-of-year position ever in our country’s history, and equivalent to 4 months of imports.

• Inflation rate contained to 3.5 per-cent at the end of 2012, well within acceptable norms.

Targets for 2013• The domestic economy is projected

to achieve real growth of 5.3 per cent in 2013.

• Sugar production is targeted at 240,000 tonnes, 10.1 percent above 2012 level of production.

• The manufacturing sector is project-ed to record a stronger growth per-formance of 4.4 per cent in 2013.

• The information and communica-tion sector is projected to expand by 4.5 per cent.

• The construction industry is targeted to grow by 10 per cent, spurred by continued growth in private sector housing construction, and by key projects in the public sector invest-ment programme.

• The size of Budget 2013 is $208.8 bil-lion, Guyana’s largest budget ever.

• Rice industry is projected to record a production level of 440,106 tonnes, equivalent to 4.3 percent growth over the record performance in 2012.

• For the year 2013, an inflation rate of 4.3 per cent is targeted.

Budget Measures• Budget 2013 provides an amount of

$1B to be transferred by Government to GuySuCo to help the company meet the financing requirements of

its transformation plans. • Budget 2013 provides operating and

capital transfers to GPL totalling $10.2 billion .

• Budget 2013 provides for the old age pension to be increased to $12,500 per month, an increase of 25 percent, with effect from May 1, 2013.

• Government will provide each old age pensioner with assistance of up to $20,000 per annum to pay GPL for electricity charges incurred.

• With effect from year of income 2013, first-time home owners who are holders of mortgage loans of up to $30 million granted to them by commercial banks or the building society will be permitted to deduct the interest they pay on such mort-gages from their taxable incomes for the purposes of personal income tax.

• With effect from year of income 2013, personal income tax will be charged on income above the current threshold of $50,000 per month or $600,000 per annum at a rate of 30 percent instead of 33⅓ percent.

Budget Cuts During consideration of the Budget Estimates, the Opposition Parliamen-tary Parties, using their one-seat major-ity, cut the budget by some $31.4B. The budgetary cuts have effectively denied our citizens access to cheap and reli-able electricity; stopped construction of a health facility that promised specialty health care at expectedly affordable costs; prevented the modernization and em-ployment and other benefits associated with a larger airport; threatened the jobs of those workers at the National Com-munications Network (NCN) and the Government Information News Agency ( GINA), while at the same time may cause an increase in electricity charges by some 17 per cent. The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) saw the budget as containing measures aimed at foster-ing growth while improving our people’s welfare and standard-of-living, and sees the Opposition-initiated cuts as irre-sponsible and callous, and the negative consequences will be felt mainly by the Guyanese working people. The Union calls on the Parliamentary political par-ties to restore the amounts cut from the Budget and allow the projects to con-tunue unaffected.

GAWU concludes negotiations at BEV- wage hike and improvement in benefits secured

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Man-agement of BEV Processors Inc agreed on pay rise and other working condi-tions’ improvements, including mone-tary changes, on March 14, 2013, after the parties were engaged in three (3) lengthy meetings.

The pay increase for the Company’s al-most three hundred (300) employees is eight (8) per cent, and it will take effect from January 01, 2013. New meal allow-ances are lunch, $600; breakfast, $360; and dinner, $500.

New vacation allowances are 1 – 4 years’ service: $12,000; 5 – 7 years’ ser-vice: $14,000; and over 7 years’ service: $16,000.

The new out-of-town allowance is $2,000.

The spouse of an employee who suffers an industrial death is entitled to not less than $500,000., even if the sum payable by the Group Life Insurance Scheme is less, as the Company has agreed to make

up the difference. In cases where the in-surance payment is in excess of $500,000, the Company shall grant an additional $250,000. Importantly, the Company will pay the total premiums, thus no worker is required to make any premium contribu-tion.

Five (5) days’ compassionate leave stet been approved, and granting of a greater number of days will be at Management’s discretion.

Male employees are to receive three (3) sets of trousers and three (3) shirts per year, while female employees would be provided with clean overalls every work-ing day.

The Union’s negotiating team com-prised its General Secretary, Cde See-paul Narine; the Union’s Field Secretary, Cde Ricardo Persaud; shop stewards and those branch members who are not shop stewards. The Company team was led by its owner, Cde Bruce Vieira stet other Company directors and senior manage-ment personnel.

GAWU/Caricom Rice Mills to soon commence negotiations The Guyana Agricultural and Gen-eral Workers Union (GAWU) and the Management of the Caricom Rice Mills Limted (CRM) are soon to engage in negotiations with a view to improve the level of wages and salaries of the Com-pany’s 60 person workforce.

The parties are also to consider up-

ward adjustments in some monetary allowances, the implementation of a 40-hour work week, and changes in certain fringe benefits.

Both the Union and the Company have expressed their wish to commence and conclude the negotiations in the month of May.

“Capitalist barbarism, crisis and Imperialist wars,

or socialism”