Dear Editor,
The Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union was very happy to hear from President Ali, the Government’s announced Private Sector employees’ minimum wage increase from $44,200 to $60,000 per month, at the commemoration ceremony of the 74th Anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs. We welcome the move and hope that the work in the direction of giving these workers good representation will meet with success. This brings me to an important point. The result of the development process should be the economic and financial security of workers.
Development is about people and for people. A development strategy should be designed to put the workers eventually in control of economic power within the Private Sector. Workers must cease being passive wage-earners, mere tools of production within the economy, and become involved in enterprises as managers, owners, and decision-makers. The whole purpose of Trade Unionism is to secure the best conditions of life for its members, the workers. The standard of living that the workers can achieve depends upon the state of the country’s economy.
People are the agents of development, but they are also its beneficiaries. The success of the development efforts will depend, therefore, upon how well workers perform their individual duties and also how sensibly they utilize the fruits of development which happens to be the most challenging role to play in the achievement of social and economic goals. The Movement should see its role not only in terms of rights but also in responsibilities. In effect, an enlightened Movement should see its role in two dimensions:
(1) The creation of a society, with equal opportunities for all,
(2) The responsibility of the Movement in developing among its members, those habits and attitudes consistent with achieving such a society.
The place and the importance of the Trade Union Movement in the development of Guyana are recognized and acknowledged by the Government and, undoubtedly, by the Movement itself.
Sincerely,
Sherwood Clarke
General President
CCWU