Dear Editor,
First let me thank President David Granger for accepting the Guyana Trades Union Congress’ invitation and delivering the feature address to our 4th Triennial Conference (10th-11th November). The President’s call for the trade union to adopt a new model in seeking representation has not been lost on the trade union community. Changing times require changing actions, albeit not requiring changing the principles and the foundational reason for one’s existence.
The trade union is a creature of conflict, having emerged in the international landscape as a result of the Industrial Revolution that saw the exploitation of the new concentrated workforce. In Guyana when we began in 1905 under the leadership of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, it was in response to the exploitation of dockworkers, which later grew into an organisation of national character, organising workers in various sectors and looking out for their welfare in and out of the workplace.
It was the trade union that started the fight for internal self-government (1926) which we view as critical to the workers’ empowerment, and knew this necessitated having universal adult suffrage (one man one vote). Self-government brings with it the responsibility to advance, ensure and protect citizens’ rights to political, social, cultural and economic self-determination. This continues to be a work in progress.
In the re-modelling of Guyana’s post-independent economy where the state was the leading economic force, most of trade union representation was in the state-owned entities. When the government re-modelled the state’s economy, and state-owned institutions were scaled back such impacted on our membership, but it did not find a trade union community not adapting to the change. Evidence of our adaptation can be seen in the private sector, and including what was then considered unconventional, in the gold mining industry where gold miners (eg Omai) were organised. Three years ago the minibus operators became organised and this year the vendors have organised themselves into a trade union.
The GTUC is also setting its sights on having the police force become organised as seen in the United States and Suriname. Comparatively these forces have better conditions of employment than what exists in Guyana. For instance in the US there exist healthcare plans which cover the police and their families, and insurance in the event of death which includes dying in the line of duty. We look forward to working with the government to make this a reality for our hardworking and under-served policemen and women.
The confrontational approach of the trade union, depending on the perspective, can be viewed either negatively or as empowering. The world had shown that the masses never achieve progress without a struggle. The history of our country that brought an end to slavery and indentureship, to securing independence, came using struggle as the major tool for empowerment. With struggle there will be disagreement, given that it is from the failure to resolve disagreement across the table that has necessitated the act of struggling to be heard and justice achieved.
A similar method has been employed and continues to be employed by political parties. Society will recall the struggle led by then Opposition Leader Granger in front the Office of the President every Friday. The opposition was confronting the Donald Ramotar administration to bring about the changes they wanted, given Ramotar’s failure to have them addressed across the table. The trade union operates no differently.
The trade union is determined to play its role to bring about an environment where each human being is treated equally and ensured his/her dignity and respect, which are enshrined in international conventions, charters and laws. The Guyana Constitution so protects our right to existence (Article 147); specifies our role in helping to shape the economy, ensuring production and productivity (Article 38); and our involvement in national management and decision-making on issues that impact the welfare of our constituents, past, present and potential (Article 149C). We have reached out to the President to ensure this, given the role of government in safeguarding and ensuring the Laws of Guyana for workers/citizens and country.
By letter dated 22nd September a request was sent to President Granger seeking engagement. The trade union is encouraged by the President’s response on 4th October indicating that he is awaiting advice from the Ministry of Social Protection, after which he will engage us. The unions look forward to such engagement and fruitful deliberations, more particularly in light of the new economic model (Green economy) being pursued and our prescribed role in making it happen.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis