As Labour Week kicks off, with preparations for the March and Rally on Friday, May 1st, it’s important to reflect on the significant contributions of the Labour Movement to Guyana’s social progress. One hundred and twenty one years ago, in 1905, a young waterfront worker, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, began organising workers for change.
14 years later, at the age of 35, his efforts led to the formation of the first trade union in Guyana, the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU), renamed the Guyana Labour Union (GLU). This institution predated political parties and laid the foundation for the country’s labour and social justice framework.
The Labour Movement’s achievements are numerous and transformative. Among the most notable is the introduction of universal adult suffrage (one-man-one-vote), which gave every eligible Guyanese citizen the right to vote, regardless of privilege. This milestone empowered the people, shifting the political landscape and providing the electorate with the most potent weapon of democracy: their vote.
Equally important are the gains related to freedom of association. This fundamental right allows citizens to choose their allies, from trade unions to political and religious groups, without fear of reprisal. It’s this right that ensures employers cannot arbitrarily set wages or impose harsh conditions without the consultation of organised labour.
Equally important are the gains related to freedom of association. This fundamental right allows citizens to choose their allies, from trade unions to political and religious groups, without fear of reprisal. It’s this right that ensures employers cannot arbitrarily set wages or impose harsh conditions without the consultation of organized labour. From maternity benefits to occupational safety and the establishment of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), these social protections continue to uphold the dignity of workers across the country.
The Labour Movement also made crucial strides in housing development. Initiatives like TUCville in Georgetown and TUCberg in Berbice, alongside other projects developed by unions such as the GLU and GMWU, have provided housing for thousands of Guyanese workers.
Labour built this nation, and more than any institution outside of government, it laid the groundwork for the social justice framework that ensures equal rights for all. But recent years have seen the movement struggle against a backdrop of corruption, greed, and a lack of respect for human capital. Politicians have become disconnected from the people’s needs, distracted by power struggles and ignoring their responsibility to work towards the collective good.
While labour remains a key social partner in governance, enshrined in the Constitution at Articles 38 and 149C, it is increasingly marginalised in today’s political climate. Too often, the focus is on political parties, rather than on the core issue of ensuring fair living conditions for workers and families. Labour’s struggle transcends party politics. Regardless of who is in power, the issues remain the same: decent wages, social protections, preservation of human rights and dignity, and a commitment to national development.
It is time for us to realize a truly inclusive democracy in our political system. Labour demands key reforms to ensure greater collaboration between government and opposition for the benefit of all citizens. Specifically, we call for increasing the number of votes needed to pass certain Bills in the National Assembly to foster collaboration between government and opposition, ensuring broader consensus on key issues.
The exploitation of oil and gas resources, much like the handling of past natural resources such as bauxite, gold, diamonds, and forestry, must be carefully scrutinized. Guyana’s wealth from these resources should not be an external windfall that leaves our citizens behind.
We must guard against situations where Guyanese are forced to settle for “crumbs” while foreign interests reap the bulk of the benefits. It is time for a new approach that guarantees substantial benefits for locals, including addressing the concerning disparity in wages between local and foreign workers doing the same job.
Politics in Guyana should not be an endless partisan battle that wears down the people and stifles cooperation. Labour calls for a return to meaningful parliamentary engagement. Politicians must bring their issues to the National Assembly, debate them, and work through differences in a constructive manner. Our people deserve nothing less than a transparent and effective government.
To GECOM, we express concern with the failure, thus far, to provide to this nation free, fair and credible elections as evidenced by the refusal to provide a clean voters list and biometrics.
The growing divisions in society, fueled by political partisanship and misinformation, undermine national unity. The future of our nation depends on finding common ground, returning to shared truths, and embracing leadership committed to public service, not personal gain.
The Labour Movement calls on all sectors of society, including religious bodies and the media, to hold those in power accountable. Let us remain united in purpose, focusing on the long-term welfare of our people, rather than getting distracted by the shifting sands of partisan politics. Together, we can continue to push for a fairer, more just society for all Guyanese.
