THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) will, in August, hold its 21st Delegates’ Congress under the theme “United Struggles for Workers’ Rights, Democracy and a Secure Future”.The Union’s highest decision-making forum will be held at Bath, West Coast Berbice (WCB) beginning on August 20, 2016 and concluding on August 23, 2016. It is expected to be well attended by hundreds of delegates from its membership and a number of fraternal organisations. The three-day Congress will have a packed agenda, and workers will be recognised for their dedicated service to the Union and for promoting the workers’ interests, a statement from GAWU on Friday detailed.

“Another highlight of the Congress,” GAWU said in the statement, “is the presentation of the General Council’s Report, followed by its discussion. As a rule, the report will cover a wide range of issues, and will include a broad assessment of certain international events; the developments domestically since the last Congress; the present-day work of our Union, and the challenges before it; as well as the general state of Trade Unionism locally and beyond.

“As should be expected, the sugar industry, the uncertainties that surround it and the threats to its employees, will engage Congress in a focused way,” the GAWU statement said.

The Delegates’ Congress is being viewed by the union as “one of the most important in our Union’s history.”

“Convened at this juncture of our country’s development, and at a time when a large swathe of the Guyanese productive working-class feels justly demoralised, the forthcoming Congress will surely be one of the most important in our Union’s history”, GAWU has said.

The Union expects proposals that will serve to guide the Union’s work in the future would be put on the table so that there can be progression.

A new General Council will be elected at the Congress, and will have the mandate of fulfilling Congress’s decisions and pursuing those resolutions to be debated and approved by the Congress.

“As we prepare for our Congress, we feel constrained to observe that the time that has elapsed since our last Congress was eventful, filled with various activities and struggles,” GAWU said, adding: “Despite difficulties and several negative scenarios, our Union has vigorously represented its members and protected its organisation from divisive attempts which have surfaced particularly over the past months.

“We approach Congress with optimism that our unity and militancy, combined with widespread goodwill and solidarity, will assure a productive Congress and successes in the challenging tasks ahead.”

GAWU’s last Delegate’s Congress was held in 2012.