This attack on workers’ freedom equates to Govt’s abusive attitude toward organized labour

Dec 23, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
A perception is taking momentum that the trade union is irrelevant. This view has its origin in some self-serving employers and agent provocateurs and inadvertently regurgitated by workers whose rights and wellbeing the trade union was established to advance, protect and defend.
From the outset let me remind workers the employers have their unions such as the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Chambers of Commerce, Guyana Manufacturer Association (GMA) and the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI).
These unions are organized by the employers and maintained on the sweat of the workers to advance the interests of the employers on the back of the workers. No worker will be allowed to tell the employers they have no need for unionization and it is better to operate as individual unit.
Workers will be reminded of the employers’ right to freedom of association. Similarly, workers-past, present and potential – must not let any employer/person disrespect their right too to freedom of association.
The United Nations’ oldest institution, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), comprises the representatives of government, employer and workers union. It was birthed out of the need to give equal voice and meaning to society’s three main partners in their pursuit of development through peace, fully cognizant that peace is built on justice.
For workers to stand by and support any initiative, however disguised, to take away their voice as an equal partner in matters that impact and affect their lives, after making significant advancement over the years, is to be a willing participant to opening the floodgates for their exploitation and denial of socio-economic development.
The benefits workers today enjoy were not given to them by the employers. They were fought for and won on the sweat, blood and tears of organized labour.
The universal right to vote, self-government, 40-hour work week, public education and health care, retirement benefits/pension plans, NIS, minimum wage, Landlord and Tenant law, right to own property, paid vacation, overtime pay, safe working environment, individual rights and freedoms, human rights, Decent Work Agenda, etc, were fought for and became part of society’s conventions, constitution and legislation. These are some of organized labour’s proud achievements! Some of these said benefits are under threat, and there are still ways to go to ensure a just society for all.
On the global economy the trade union has been a vanguard in the fight for fair trade since the conviction is held that free trade must be buttressed by fair trade.
There have been some movement in this direction with countries modifying business practices in keeping with established conventions, but there remains much more work to be done.
The recent global economic meltdown bears testimony to what greed and exploitation can do to workers’ wellbeing as they helplessly watched their pensions’ and other investments devalued/disappeared.
Many governments, in efforts to rescue their economies, turnaround and borrowed from the workers (taxpayers) to give a lifeline to those companies they deemed too big to fail.
As note is taken of Kaieteur News’ editorials (‘The death of trade unionism’ 7/12/2010 and ‘Dinosaur Trade Unions’ 19/12/2010) insight is offered of the writer(s) misunderstanding of the genesis, role and responsibilities of labour in society. Further, to seek to define what the trade union must advocate for in the absence of decisions made by its membership contravenes the fundamental principles of the ILO which include the rights to freedom of association and to bargain collectively based on the workers’ desire/interest.
The trade union was birthed in resistance to the exploitation of workers by ruthless employers, governments/kingdoms. So long as these exist there will be need for workers unions.
Contrary to the 7th editorial, the Printing Industries and Allied Workers Union (PIAWU) and the Guyana Bauxite Supervisors Union (GBSU) are still active and operating. The GBSU’s which was assigned registration No. 181 has changed its name to the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), maintaining the same registration number and is currently involved in a year-long struggle with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) to ensure the respect for workers’ rights and the rule of law. The PIAWU is currently representing workers at the Guyana National Printers Ltd.
The 19th editorial’s account of the Guyana Sugar Workers Union (GSWU), which was formed by Ravi Dev, is grossly inaccurate. The facts are: 1) GSWU failed to satisfy the requirements under the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Act and; 2) it requested an affiliation to the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) where the Rules specifically state that for any union to be accepted into membership it must submit a copy of a Recognition Agreement that it has bargaining rights.
The GSWU, represented by Ravi Dev, failed to produce same. Hence it is dishonest to accuse the GTUC of standing aside and allowing the powers that be to raise red-herring to effectively stymie the challenge to the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU).
To describe the trade union’s umbrella/federated body as “cartels” – word associated with the narco economy – is unacceptable. The writer cannot carelessly throw words around to criminalise an organisation s/he is obviously intolerant of and ignorant about. To be seen as credible s/he must provide the supporting evidence of such a claim in keeping with the newspapers’ prided investigative acumen.
The instant editorial not only reeks of intolerance and disrespect for the rights of the working class; it is also contemptuous of the institutions of society under which these rights are guaranteed.
This unconstitutional attack on workers’ freedom equates to this government abusive attitude toward organized labour, independent media and the citizenry.
One wonders in this environment how equally disposed is the editorial writer to the adage that “what is good for the goose is also good for the gander,” for it is clear in its requiem of the “Dinosaur Trade Unions” it borrowed wholesale the government’s misguided perception, disdain and concomitant strategy to make extinct independent media in as much as it violates the media’s constitutional rights to existence and self determination, similar rights under which the trade union is established and should be equally respected.
Lincoln Lewis

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