Saturday, June 14, 2025
Village Voice News
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Village Voice News
No Result
View All Result
Home Op-ed

OP-ED | Hamilton is playing a dangerous game in dividing the working class

Staff Reporter by Staff Reporter
January 12, 2022
in Op-ed
General Secretary, Guyana Trades Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis

General Secretary, Guyana Trades Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis

0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Lincoln Lewis

It is once again noticed Minister of Labour Joe Hamilton has moved with haste to seek resolution into the wages/salaries grievances with workers employed by GPL who are represented by NAACIE.  Whereas as a trade unionist I am encouraged by the Ministry moving with alacrity to conciliate in grievance matters it cannot help but be noted such action is only applicable to some trade unions.

READ ALSO

Jennifer Ally’s Vile Campaign Is a Mirror of PPP’s Rotten Core

Political Defection and Undermining of Democracy in Guyana

Hamilton is playing a dangerous game in dividing the working class by selectively applying the Labour Laws and actively trampling on the rights of some workers. And whereas the Ali/Jagdeo regime is hell-bent on pursuing a divided society Hamilton should be advising against same.

The laws are very clear on industrial relations matters and Hamilton has the responsibility to ensure a stable and harmonious industrial relations climate. Where in our society labour is concentrated in some sectors and areas based on ethnicity and political persuasion, the Minister of Labour should never be seen as providing preferential treatment to any group when the law protects all.

Under the law, GAWU and NAACIE are not superior to other trade unions. They may be considered friendly or aligned unions to the PPP/C but that does not make them superior. Thus, when the government moves to address the grievances of these unions and ignore those of others they confirm their biases and discriminatory practices.

There are so many other unions apart from GAWU and NAACIE who have grievances unattended and lying at the Ministry of Labour and the Minister is ignoring them. For instance, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) has laid before the Minister, more than a year ago, outstanding grievances. To date, he has refused to address them. One such matter is the incorrect calculation of Termination Benefits for workers employed at the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc. (BCGI).

What would move a minister, government and supporters of this injustice to consider such discriminatory practice acceptable? How could they, with honesty and conviction, speak of ‘One Guyana’ when their policies, programmes and actions are perpetuating the marginalisation of some and a divided Guyana.

Today I publicly call on Minister Hamilton to stop the divisive enforcement of the Labour Laws and attend to the outstanding grievances languishing in the Ministry of Labour and on his desk. The workers of Guyana, irrespective of ethnicity, trade union representation or perceived political persuasion, are entitled to equal respect and protection under the law.

ShareTweetSendShareSend

Related Posts

Op-ed

Jennifer Ally’s Vile Campaign Is a Mirror of PPP’s Rotten Core

by Staff Writer
June 12, 2025

by Randy Gopaul In a country where grief is sacred, Jennifer Ally has made a sport of stomping on the...

Read moreDetails
Roysdale Forde, S.C, M.P
News

Political Defection and Undermining of Democracy in Guyana

by Admin
June 12, 2025

By Roysdale Forde S.C, M.P- Political defection in Guyana constitutes a serious breach of democratic principle and parliamentary ethics. In...

Read moreDetails
GHK Lall
Op-ed

There is no trustworthy leadership in Guyana, no credible Opposition- GHK Lall

by Admin
June 12, 2025

By GHK Lall- I am caught between thanking Pres. Bharrat Jagdeo or congratulating Guyana’s combination of Houdini, Bernie, and Donny. ...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Vincent Alexander- GECOM Commissioner.

Alexander walks out of GECOM meeting over dismissal of Lowenfield’s Personal Assistant


EDITOR'S PICK

Lorna Smith, BVI Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade British Virgin Islands

BVI trade delegation seeking closer ties with Guyana

August 1, 2023
Former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson celebrates his 90th Birthday Anniversary

JAMAICA | Patterson at 90: Jamaica’s Titan of Political History Marks Milestone

April 11, 2025

Charity woman allegedly killed by her granddaughter

November 28, 2022

Exxon says world set to fail 2°C global warming cap by 2050

August 29, 2023

© 2024 Village Voice

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Village Voice