Trade Union Recognition Bill is a move to eliminate us - GTUC President

Trade Union Recognition Bill is a move to eliminate us – GTUC President

Jan 04, 2009 News

While some unions are in full support of the Trade Union Recognition Bill, the Guyana Trades Union Congress is not for the Bill.

Speaking on the issue was President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Ms. Gillian Burton.

Burton said she is of the opinion that the passing of the Bill is a move to displace the GTUC.

“When you look at the structure, it tells us that, despite what we are being told, we have a deep-rooted feeling that it is a move to displace the GTUC and replace it with FITUG,” Burton said.

She added that her opinion is further validated by the fact that the Government is fully aware that the International Labour Organization recognises only the GTUC as the organisation which governs labour issues in Guyana, and yet, proper representation is not being allowed.

“I say so because, despite the fact that the Government is aware that the ILO recognises only the GTUC, for a period of time, we have noted that whenever the Geneva Conference comes up, the Government seeks to carry, other than the GTUC representative, a FITUG representative,” Burton pointed out.

She said that in the past, the GTUC was forced to write the ILO on the matter, lobbying against the GTUC not being included in the delegation at the Geneva Conference.

“What has been happening is that the Guyana delegation (has always been) incomplete and as such was not allowed to be properly seated as a delegation, since the instrument for them to sit as a delegation was withheld.”

“This is because, for a period, they were not (the) rightful representative. (Their representative has never been) someone from GTUC, but, instead, someone from FITUG.” Burton pointed out.

She added that this clandestine move, in which the administration always seeks to take a representative from FITUG, who wouldn’t have representation at the GTUC level, has always been happening.

According to Burton, in the past, the Administration has never sought to consult with the GTUC, seeking to enquire who from that body will be making representation in Geneva. In the meantime, the ILO has sought not to have the Guyana delegation properly seated, since the Guyana delegation has always been made to sit as observers.

Burton said the move by the administration has been affecting the labour movement locally, since as observers they are not allowed to make any representation whatsoever.

For last year, Burton said, only Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir attended the conference, and he was made to sit as an observer.