Today, I bring greetings to the Guyana labour movement and workers of this country. The theme of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, “Building a strong progressive union to respond to the challenges” says exactly what is required of the labour movement to fulfill its mandate to the working-class people of our country. It is not an easy task under the circumstances where labour is challenged by political forces determined to overtake labour’s independence and undermine laws and customary practices that allow for trades union activism.
The environment of labour has become toxic for the working class, many of whom operate in fear or choose to forego their right to freedom of association so as not to place their employment at risk.
Many workers in government services are being cheated out of an opportunity for benefits, because there is an increase hiring of contract workers who have no benefit of unionisation and the protection derived therefrom. The workers are taken advantage of and many will only realise this if or when they fall sick, loose income or retire and discover they have no NIS benefits to gain, no pension.
Ours is not a government operating with goodwill for the working-class people. Ours is a government seeking every way it can to dismantle the strength of the trades union movement, particularly in the public sector where government feels most at risk of labour given its importance to their functioning. The efforts to render collective bargaining useless and to divide labour into pro PPP and independent leaves the latter vulnerable and presents opportunities for the former to get crumbs even as their workers face the same market conditions and pressures.
We see government, the largest employer in this land giving out drain digging contractual jobs as a political action, but nonetheless with grave consequences to those workers who will be involved in such activities.
The poor and most vulnerable workers are now placed at risk of some “contractors.” As seen on social media these men and women of one ethnic group are fetching silt contaminated with all sorts of domestic and other waste without the protection of personal protective equipment (no gloves, no long boots). The government of oil rich Guyana is proud to say it is inclusive and handing out jobs to all citizens even as the history of these contracts was dependent on identification with red tee shirts and votes.
The labour movement of Guyana must rise to these challenges and protect workers of Guyana but so too must the workers of Guyana for their role in changing the exploitation of their labour is what strengthens the trades union movement. Workers, you are the movement. Know your worth, know your rights and organise yourself where no unions exist, join the union wherever you are and make your presence and views count to improve representation.
Don’t take for granted the benefits you enjoy today. They were earned in many ways through union negotiations in an atmosphere where your rights enshrined in the laws were respected, adhered to and even influenced by workers and unions before you.
It is time for the labour movement to strengthen and build its internal capacity to meet the challenges of a hostile political environment. The newly explored wealth of Guyana must be utilised to make a difference in workers lives. This movement cannot meet these challenges if it continues to operate in a pre-oil and gas economy. The dynamics governing the factors of production- land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship have changed with oil and gas.
Labour, as always is most vulnerable unless it can unify and adequately meet the demands for quality representation and secure its place at the table of decision making on matters of our economy and the distribution of wealth. Where land, capital and entrepreneurship meet labour is not an option but an essential component that must be respected and catered for equally. It is enshrined in our Constitution and progressive.
