-GAWU says in message to GPSU 19th Biennial Delegates Conference
PUBLIC employees are the backbone of a government’s administrative capacity. These employees constitute at varying levels of professional, clerical or advisory positions, the life blood of the administration’s ability to govern the country through all the constitutional, legal and executive agencies such as ministries and their departments.

This was the sentiment expressed by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in its message to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) which recently held its 19th Biennial Delegates Conference.

The message also noted that the public sometimes tend to ignore or disacknowledge their own public servants’ vital importance. “We must remind ourselves that all government employees are doing their jobs, minding their own businesses as they keep the wheels of the government turning long after all the elections and swearing in of cabinet officials”.

The contribution to the national economy by public servants should therefore be qualified and recognised in the same manner as the production figures devoted to sugar or water from workers, miners, manufacturers or trade and industry. Public employees also rake in the revenue government is entitled to, for the public good, GAWU said.

It is against this reflective background, therefore, that GAWU pays tribute and sends greetings to the nineteenth (19th) biennial delegates conference that was hosted on September 28-30, 2011.

The 19th Biennial Conference indicates an historical significance that the GPSU is one older and more experienced bargaining agent, established even before these biennials. Congratulations on your labour-movement’s longevity, GAWU said.

GAWU added that the guiding theme, this time around: “Workers together, fighting as one for sustainable workers rights”, captures the principles and objectives of any right-thinking workers representative organisation.

GAWU knows that the challenges lie in achieving the ideal of “working together” and, maintaining “sustainable rights” and benefits for your members. But the theme also seems to embrace all the nation’s contributors.