Workers must fight government for their survival and wellbeing- Lewis

By Nicole Telford- “We call on all Labour Unions and organisations and civil society to lend solidarity to the Guyana’s Teachers Union (GTU). The Government of Guyana is right to negotiate with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), as is designed by law, so if the Government is not negotiating with the GTU, the Union has the right to take strike action.” These sentiments were shared by Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).

Veteran trade unionist Lewis, in an interview with Village Voice News, was adamant in his call for what he said must be fair, just and lawful treatment by government of all workers under its purview in Guyana. Lewis cited Article 147 of Guyana’s constitution which gives the right to strike action by aggrieved workers. He explained the GTU is justified in taking strike action since the Government has refused to negotiate with the Union that submitted its proposal for increased wages/salary and working conditions.

At this juncture, it becomes necessary to do battle with the government and the action taken by the GTU is long overdue, since Section 23(1) of the Trade Union Recognition Law speaks to the issue of the employer treating with the trade unions in good faith,” Lewis said.

The trade unionist said Government has been contemptuous towards the working class and denying this category of workers a living wage but in the last three years the president and ministers increased their emoluments by more than $300,000 per month whilst teachers were thrown pennies. They (government officials) want to go to the supermarket to meet their needs, but the teachers can’t even go to the corner shop to meet theirs,” said Lewis as he lambasted what he called the “Jagdeo-Ali regime.”

 Analyzing the situation further, Lewis said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is not talking or negotiating with the GTU, but talks with GAWU which is the Party’s industrial arm. “If the regime claims it is not talking to unions that are politically aligned, how can it explain talking with GAWU, whose President, Seepaul Narine, is a PPP Member of Parliament and Central Executive Member of that party,” he questioned. “Who tells the PPP it can tell others who to select or elect to represent them,” Lewis charged and blamed “the crassness of the government that has brought us to this point.”

Highlighting the need for the unions to fight back the trade unionist said, “the Guyana Government is in breach of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions Nos. 87 and 98 which speak to the right to collective bargaining and freedom of association.”

Blasting the government’s attitude towards sections of the Guyanese working class, Lewis called on teachers to ignore threats issued by Ministers Gail Teixeira, Priya Manickchand and Joseph Hamilton, and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and not waiver in the fight for their rights. Explaining the role of Hamilton in the labour dispute, Lewis said his ministry has the responsibility to conciliate in the matters and noted GTU wrote the ministry, but it failed to act.

The GTUC General Secretary expressed dissatisfaction with government’s refusal to negotiate with the unions it considers to be anti-government, stating the law does not permit such action. “Nowhere in the Guyana’s Constitution does it say who or whom should be negotiated with; rather, as an employer what the government should be doing is negotiating with the union given that the GTU is recognised as bargaining agent for teachers and a proposal is before the government.  We have to stop the PPP Government now, the veteran trade unionist declared.