Dear Editor,
What should also be included and seriously addressed in this 50th Independence celebrations is the renaissance of Trade Unionism. It has become dizzy from sleeping too long. That once famous Guyana Mine Workers Union – GMWU- on Wismar Street in Linden, once the fort from which bauxite workers stood tall now only holds memories of yesteryear when glorious struggles/battles were fought, lost and won. Once a perennial hub of activities, it now stands lonely and virtually neglected, humbly in a corner like a dog with its tail between its legs. And no different is the former Guyana Bauxite Supervisors’ Union – GBSU – on Bulletwood Street, also once a hive of movements albeit to a lesser extent, addressing middle management/supervisor grievances now they both appear as if they have become obsolete, like old graveyards, hardly anyone pays attention to them, to be factual they have virtually lost their sting, and relevance. It is unthinkable that two industrial unions operating in a mining Town/Region, once hotbeds for progressive trade-union activism are void of any noticeable working-class activities, are inexorably dreary, cold and dormant with respect to conducting the affairs of the labouring class, a real big difference upon reflection compared to then Labour Day when these two buildings couldn’t hold the mass of workers/supervisors interchanging and interfacing during the day’s function, considered by some as blessings in disguise. But these buildings aren’t quite done-with just yet, there are activities of a different nature, the bottom flats of both buildings are being used for religious purposes, places of worship where there is a regular stream of religious functions. Isn’t it sort of out of sync, ridiculous that a worker seeking union information, relevant reading material on the labour movement, both locally and internationally cannot access such material from the library of his/her union simply because there isn’t a library, why, it’s even difficult to locate a collective labour agreement-past/present, a real sad affair. I know for sure that is the state of affairs concerning GMWU: That once restless building as one could imagine maybe longs to hear the clomping sounds of rugged steely revolting boots marching up and down, parading within back and forth.
Editor and dear reader are you aware that this year marks the centenary of bauxite mining in Guyana (1916-2016), yes siree! and I’m going out on a limb here in making bold to say that within this primary and once predominant mining community/Town one would be lucky to find a handful of people who know this – including some union executives! The Town is oblivious to such historical significance, even the workers whose livelihood are directly tied to this once lucrative commodity – this brown mineral, have no idea what-so-ever and really don’t give a damn, period. And there is nothing what-so-ever indicating, not a semblance that bauxite mining has recorded a landmark and equally no position by the unions on this important milestone. Guyana’s 50th year of Independence ought not to be seen as independent and oblivious to bauxite mining which has made an invaluable contribution in shaping this nation, a main export product and pillar of economy. Oh! the launching of this jubilee year under the Independence Arch which was erected as an independence gift to this nation by the then Demerara Bauxite Company-“DEMBA”, was a fitting act; a palpable reminder on the role played, the input and influence exerted by bauxite. The town of Linden and its environs aptly referred to by some as the “dusty town” was created by bauxite, it was the dominant player and mover, to a large extent the Bauxite Company was the soul and clock of the community, the axis upon which the Town spun, had at one time in its employ over 5,000 workers, thus the ethos of the people were fashioned. A community people who exhibited indomitable will, vibrancy and fortitude, tough as the rocks and overburden that were blasted from their formidable place of rest and the machines that conquered them.
Editor, I make haste to note here that there is nothing today that stands in honour and a testimony to the contribution made by bauxite workers after one hundred years! but it has been a long time gone since trade union vibrancy became a silent observer within the scheme of things, except once in a while there’s a spark here and there, contented to remain confined to the formality of a fading labour day celebration where some workers welcome the opportunity to at least get to enjoy some form of benefit from their dues. Predictably the movement will not be any different in this jubilee month/year, lest they be deemed rude and unpatriotic. But where Linden/Region 10 is concerned jubilee or no jubilee Trade Unionism is as dead as a door-nail, workers don’t even know who their executives/representatives are.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
