The place of the Trade Union movement in Guyana’s Development

Jan 09, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The Trade Union Movement has a vested interest in the development of Guyana. More than that; it has a right and duty to be actively involved in the task of development.
The whole purpose of Trade unionism is to secure the best conditions of life for its members, the workers. The standard of life which the workers can achieve depends upon the state of the country’s economy.
If the country is poor and backward, the workers’ wages and their working and living conditions in general will be poor. No amount of trade union militancy will be able to change this fact.
On the other hand, as the country prospers, as the wealth generated within the economy increases, there will be larger surpluses for distribution to the workers by way of wages and other benefits.
Put another way, as the national cake gets bigger, every worker can get a larger slice. But, the national cake can only get bigger if we develop Guyana.
Development is a complex process. It involves the expanding of economic activity by setting up new industries, exploiting new resources, and creating new employment opportunities.
It also implies greater efficiency in the management of economic enterprises, and greater productivity on the part of the workers. It necessitates the improvement of workers’ skills, capability and general education, not merely to enable them to live fuller and more enjoyable lives as human beings.
For us in Guyana, development must also mean the establishment of institutions and procedures to ensure that the wealth generated within the economy is distributed equitably, and that workers secure the just rewards of their labour.
The Trade Union Movement, then, has a self – interest in promoting the development of Guyana.
The whole business of development begins and ends with people. They are the agents of development; but they are also its beneficiaries. The success of our development efforts will depend, therefore, upon how well workers perform their individual tasks and also how sensibly they utilize the fruits of development.
The education of workers is a basic task of the Trade Union Movement in the discharge of its responsibility for national development.
This education must be of a three – fold nature:
First, it must help workers to gain or improve skills, thereby increasing their efficiency and fostering pride in their work; Secondly, it must inspire relevant attitudes, based upon an understanding of the development objectives and broad national goals; Thirdly, it must encourage them to accept a rational scale of values which motivates them to make the most sensible and satisfying use of their talents their money and their time. In other words, it must ensure that workers not only learn how to make a living, but learn how to live.
Workers are the decisive factor in the development process.
Properly trained and motivated, they constitute the surest foundation upon which our development strategy can be based.
The Trade Union Movement, then, must be tireless in extending the scope and quality of workers’ education.
However, it is not enough for a worker to acquire a high degree of skill or proficiency in his line of work.
The worker needs to appreciate how important he or she is as an individual, how important his or her job is, and how important are his or her own attitudes and habits, in the context of the country’s development. The workers must be aware of national issues, as they relate to development, and try to understand how and why they affect him and his comrades. The Trade Union Movement in the best interest of the workers has an obligation to prevent unnecessary industrial conflict. By fulfilling this obligation with steadfast courage, the Movement can have a direct and powerful influence on the rapid development of the country.
In the final analysis, we need political stability. We do not think that it is necessary for us to spell this out.
We need a firm Government, capable of maintaining the peace, and ensuring that all citizens can go about their lawful occupations without fear or hindrance. We need a Government dedicated to the welfare of all our citizens and determined to develop Guyana for the benefit of the Guyanese people. We can only build Guyana in conditions of peace.
The Trade Union Movement can discharge its responsibility for development only if it first discharges this major duty to ensure political peace. We have been talking about the Trade Union Movement’s place and role in national development. Government has also its duties and responsibilities to the Movement and the workers generally.
Given harmony and understanding, Government and the Trade Union Movement can advance Guyana “on to economic freedom in a great economy.”
Sherwood Clarke
Field Secretary – CCWU

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