Critchlow, Cheddi and Chand – and Melas
It was Labour Day again yesterday. Over the past ten Labour Days I’ve been somewhat pained to contemplate the status and state of our divided trade union movement. Such as it is a “movement” these days.
I suspect that the late Father of Trade Unionism in this country, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, would be turning in his grave at the division amongst the trade union leaders and the working class, to a lesser extent. Critchlow would be more upset in his repose than Cheddi (Jagan) who took the workers’ struggle to the Colonial Legislature assembly a little after Critchlow. I suspect that Cheddi who died nearly forty years after Critch, would more understand the nature, politics and exploitation of the division than poor Critchlow who had to deal mainly with the wealthy private sector and those union leaders who declared themselves more academic and “intellectual”than he was.
The result and current status though is similar: Fifty years after the first Mayday holiday, there is no labour class “solidarity”. What “Solidarity Forever?” That’s just a song in Guyana.
I was tempted to remind the country’s younger workers of the sterling, pioneering work and role of my first two C’s – Critchlow and Cheddi. About stevedore Critchlow’s rise from the waterfront to his almost unification leadership tenure as the working-class protector. On the streets and in the Legislative Council. And Cheddi’s aggressive legislative agenda against the upper propertied classes.
But no, I’ve written enough in this column before. I even “mashed corns” exposing Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow’s frailties. So today, I’ll just state a view to provoke about three dissenters to debate.
Since this was written before yesterday, I can only hope protest and ugliness were kept to a minimum. Division would have been alive and well, earlier evidence suggests. How “healthy” could this competition be?
Two other C’s – and FITUG
After Critchlow and Cheddi, I use Chand (Komal) and Carvil (Duncan) as symbols of my contention (another “C”.) Chand leads the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). It is the largest trade union in the Caribbean.
After years of repression under the Burnham Government and Burnham-dominated Trades Union Congress (TUC) it won the right to represent the thousands of sugar workers who earn a great bulk of this country’s foreign exchange.
GAWU displaced a company union which evidence revealed had links to American interests which helped to topple Cheddi Jagan’s 1961 government. GAWU therefore, almost naturally, had an affinity to the People’s Progressive Party and its “traditional supporters”.
On the other hand Carvil Duncan is influential in the Guyana Labour Union, Guyana’s first-registered, oldest union founded by the glorious Critchlow. “Traditionally” too, the GLU had honorary Presidents who were all PNC – beginning with Forbes Burnham himself. What a mix that these two unions now find themselves in FITUG.
FITUG is the breakaway rival grouping known as the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana, now in collision with the “traditional” Trades Union Congress now a shadow of the created entity it used to be. FITUG had its second incarnation in July 2003.
It’s a pity that I cannot regale you with the whole history of FITUG here. That should be done soon for specific reasons. Suffice for you to know that the audited registered trade unions of the TUC cannot now come close to the thousands of workers represented by FITUG’s big four! But a TUC fellow told me that figures could sometimes mislead. What did he mean?
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More C’s: Culbard,
CCWU, Curious
The TUC gentleman explained that both FITUG’s GLU and CCWU are still in the TUC! What? Curious, I thought.
I contended that perhaps that is one mechanism through which the two labour groupings could merge their interests in common understandings. Hardly likely the unionist said. And promptly reminded me of my proverb about the man who tries to ride two asses.
Even the Elder Statesman of trade unionism in Guyana today Ashton Chase; has deemed the dual-membership phenomenon as “remarkable”, “unique”. I shall seek to explore the consequences of what I observed once again, yesterday. Is anything wrong with a (little) workforce and country having two labour organizations? Can they be sustained? Without undesirable conflicts? Who benefits from this state of affairs? The workers? Or the “Leaders?” Stay tuned. Even as I contend that it is time for decisive action – one way or the other…
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Farewell Mac…
One of my mentors in the traditions of the folk and the forging of national identity Wordsworth McAndrew passed on one week ago.
The tributes since have been fulsome and on-going. There is a “remembering Mac” evening planned for today at 7 pm at the Umana Yana. It is free of any charge.
Another of my cultural heroes Lord Inventor/Eddie Hooper once sang “Why Should I Leave Guyana?” Then both he and Mac made themselves leave. Among the hundreds of thousands who left. That has always saddened me. But was that negative if they took Guyana to the world? That too should be explained.
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Until…
* Young Guyanese, just who was Wordsworth McAndrew?
* It’s Arrival Time! Indo-Guyanese will celebrate the first 1838 arrival of the indentured Bound Coolies” on May 05. With gusto they celebrate achievement and contribution.
Many others also arrived in 1838. But my wish is that I’ll see Eric Phillips and his ACDA-“ethnic-specific”-organisation at one of the “Indian” melas!
*How many Guyanese workers are unionized?
* I support the Red Thread perspective on cost-of-living realities. Legislation does not feed four undernourished children!
* The Guyana Cook-up Show resumes next week-end.
‘Til next week!
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