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PNCR says proposed legislation seeks to undermine GTUC

Dec 24, 2008 News

Shadow Labour Minister, Attorney-at-law Basil Williams, says that the Trade Union Recognition (Amendment) Bill 2008 that was tabled in the National Assembly and up for debate and possibly passage on Monday will undermine the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).
According to Williams, the legislation closely resembles a previous Bill that was tabled by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) in 2006 and was pulled from the House after being lambasted for its consequences.
Williams said that this time around the only thing that was different was the language, and was intended to remove the GTUC from the Trade Union’s Representation Certification Process.
He added also that the legislation will marginalize and destroy small unions whilst destroying the aspirations of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow for a single National Association of Trade Unions.
He said, too, that the amendment will seek to repeal sections of the Principal Act which previously guaranteed a role for the GTUC, which according to Williams is the only umbrella body recognised by the International Labour Organisation.
The Shadow Minister emphasised that the legislation is in essence seeking to have the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITUG) become the union to be consulted as it relates to the bargaining process.
Clause Four of the amendment calls for the Minister of Labour to consult the most representative organisations of workers and employers in the appointment of the chairman of the board as against the requirement to consult with the most representative associations of trade unions and employers.
According to Williams, it (the legislation) will remove the GTUC from the Board that approves the certification of small unions.
Another clause in the proposed legislation will allow a union to strike only if a board has not determined the union’s application for certification within four months of the application.
Previously, a union could strike if its application was not determined within a period of two months.

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