This will be one of those relatively “lazy”, time-out pieces today. Extreme brevity as I dare to comment on two issues, seemingly so disparate.
And what am I doing travelling all the way to Madison, Wisconsin, USA?
Well it’s about the issue of workers’ rights and representation, the American Labour Movement and a Governor’s damned and daring assault on a primary bastion of America’s much-vaunted Democracy.
In case you missed it, this is the gist and summary of the issue: the Governor of the State of Wisconsin, Mr Scott Walker, Republican to the bone, introduced a Bill in the State Legislature which he claimed was/is intended to restructure the State debt and lower State interest rates and effect savings. Walker did inherit large deficits and liabilities. His legislation, therefore, is alleged to have been introduced as “an emergency measure, needed to balance the State budget and give government the tools to manage, during the economic crisis”.
Walker’s “Budget Repair” Bill sought to save $165M; require State employees to pay more towards their pension, pay more towards their health care and insurance and a few other financially-oriented measures. But hinting, broadly, that he sees “collective bargaining as a fiscal issue” the bold and bare-faced governor, in his legislation sought to eliminate State workers collective bargaining rights! Indeed, as thousands of State workers and others from even outside of Wisconsin staged massive protests, so-called “moderate” Republican law-makers had the temerity to propose their version of a “compromise”: eliminate most collective bargaining rights of public employee-unions, then re-instate them in 2013!”
Democrats and Trade Unionists in Wisconsin naturally turned explosively ballistic. They revealed that Governor’s union-busting tendencies and history. The Madison, Wisconsin protests were sustained around the State’s capitol/Parliament for days. But it was just around the same time that Egypt’s Revolution was unfolding so the Wisconsin’s protests were overshadowed. (Ironically, even an Egyptian union grouping sent solidarity to the American union-members/protestors!)
Trade Union Democracy
Naturally, the Wisconsin impasse triggered country-wide outrage and reaction. Especially when it was discovered that , in Ohio and Indiana, as well as about “nine other Republican Governors, from Nevada to New Jersey, were also targeting unions with `various proposals’; decreasing wages and bargaining power in some cases and increasing what workers contribute to pensions and benefits, in others.”
Of course, there are issues of employment and budget crises throughout America. But union leaders have seen the Republican excuses as measures to bust and de-recognise unions.
Since the American Labour Movement has been the vanguard for works’ rights, union-busting will lay bare very raw emotions. Democracy is at stake there, the people have declared.
I feel constrained to repeat for you an American Columnist’s views from the Times. Please study:
“What’s happening in Wisconsin isn’t about the State budget, despite [Wisconsin Governor Scott] Walker’s pretense that he’s just trying to be fiscally responsible. It is, instead, about power. What Mr Walker and his backers are trying to do is to make Wisconsin – and eventually, America – less of a functioning democracy and more of a third-world-style oligarchy. And that’s why anyone who believes that we need some counterweight to the political power of big money should be on the demonstrators’ side.”
Indeed. He goes on:
“[I]t’s not about the budget; it’s about the power.
In principle, every American citizen has an equal say in our political process. In practice, of course, some of us are more equal than others. Billionaires can field armies of lobbyists; they can finance think tanks that put the desired spin on policy issues; they can funnel cash to politicians with sympathetic views (as the Koch brothers did in the case of Mr Walker). On paper, we’re a one-person-one-vote nation; in reality, we’re more than a bit of an oligarchy, in which a handful of wealthy people dominate.
“Given this reality, it’s important to have institutions that can act as counterweights to the power of big money. And unions are among the most important of these institutions. You don’t have to love unions, you don’t have to believe that their policy positions are always right, to recognize that they’re among the few influential players in our political system representing the interests of middle- and working-class Americans, as opposed to the wealthy.”
Great thoughts for debate. Much food for thought!
Back in old Guyana
Wisconsin’s union derecognition issue should surely resonate back here in good old Guyana. Guysuco, you recall, had the gumption to threaten the English-speaking Caribbean’s largest union. And the local labour movement, to me, has been made to seem a poodle with teeth, but one which no longer bites when necessary. For example, why can’t FITUG and the TUC stage joint protests whenever the government gets ready to impose wage increases near year-end?
Why don’t our unions establish more economic ventures to supplement their worker/members’ economic well-being? Further I say not. Except to encourage FITUG and TUC to identify areas of common interest which can attract joint demonstrations of solidarity. Even if full unity is not now possible.
Look, consider the following questions as moots for debate,
Guyanese womanhood …
inquiry and study. It’s my unorthodox contribution to International Women’s Day – just past.
Who were the three J’s in Guyanese politics? Who were Janet Jagan, Elinor da Silva, Ann Jardim, Winifred Gaskin and Desiree Bernard? Who was the highest-ranking female GDF army officer ever?
Why are there more female nurses and teachers than males? Can you name six (6) effective Women’s organizations in Guyana? Does the Women’s Affairs Bureau go into village liquor-restaurants, pool and domino clubs and depressed yards and squatting areas to teach and counsel men about love and tolerance for wives, mothers and sisters? Discuss, after you consider women-friendly legislation and employment and education opportunities. Discuss.
*1) Why are you not investigating the building of that massive
Ponder …
edifice at High and Princes Streets?
*2) How will the West Indies fare in the current World Cup? Bet they end up in the Top Four!
*3) Get A. A. Fenty’s Book of Proverbs from CNS TV 6, Survival Supermarket, GRRC Waterloo Street, Austins Book Store, Eureka Lab on Thomas Street, Cummingsburg, Wilo’s Boutique on Hadfield Street and German’s Restaurant – or from me (tell. 622-6843, 600-6843)
’Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
