Fleecing the working class

Mar 13, 2011 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

---

Dr. Jagan has made contributions to the economic, political and social fabric of Guyana. In the years of political isolation, ensured by an imperial stratagem servicing cold war objectives, Jagan maintained the features of integrity and struggle in the face of daunting obstacles.
He had his weaknesses, too, which were analysed by historian Clem Seecharan and other political commentators.
However, with the passing of Dr. Jagan, the PPP has effected a complete abandonment of the working class precepts that were carefully crafted and nurtured by him.
The examples of the sugar and bauxite industries can be used as instructive specimens in the demonstration of the PPP’s renunciation of its working class roots.
The recent case of the injured cane cutter Davekumar Jainauth aptly demonstrates this reality.
The PPP and GuySuCo completely divested themselves of all responsibility of responding to the urgency and gravity of Mr. Jainauth’s injury.
There is a whole litany of developments since 2000 which evidences the abandonment of the working class guiding principle in the sugar belt.
First, there was the 2001 agreement with the World Bank which stipulated a five percent cap on wage increases. Workers tangibly feel the phasing out of the Annual Production Incentive.
Then we had the so-called tactical threat of de-recognizing a legitimate union, GAWU, whose antecedents prominently feature in the anti-colonial struggle.
Sugar workers’ painful experiences in getting their NIS benefits – many not even being so lucky – is another.
In the case of the aggrieved bauxite workers, Guyanese need to have a clear picture of the gravity of the situation.
The BCGI refused to recognize the union and to bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations for the purpose of collective bargaining. This in spite of the Trade Union Recognition Certification Act, Chapter 98:07, Section 23 (1) guarding against such a breach.
There have been concerted attempts to deny bauxite workers their right to strike even though the Guyana Constitution and Collective Labour Agreement 46 (2) protects it.
The dismissal of striking workers contravened Chapter 98: 07, Section 26 (2) (a).
Moreover, there has been the coercion of workers to sign a company-prepared petition in the hope of forcing de-recognition of the union even though ILO Convention No 87 and the Recognition Act allow no one, other than the workers, to determine the union of their choice.
BCGI also refused to honour the Collective Labour Agreement even though Chapter 98:07, Section 30 (1) expressly states it is legal and binding.
The PPP’s intransigence and incompetence on these matters pertaining to sugar and bauxite workers will create an increasingly radioactive political situation.
The AFC here reiterates its call for a commission of inquiry into living standards in the sugar and bauxite sectors which will in turn make concrete recommendations as to the measures of alleviation to be adopted.
The other intrinsic facet of the swindling of the working class is the added burden of the value added tax.
The PPP/C administration has with much recalcitrance resisted calls for a more humane percentage of taxation. The voices of critique and remonstrance against this burdensome 16 per cent VAT are not being listened to.
A reduction would be timely at this juncture of strained and somewhat bellicose industrial relations. It will help in reducing the cost of living.
Such a reduction would translate to a tangible alleviation and amelioration of the conditions of the poor and working class.
Recently the AFC was called upon to provide representation to the cash crop farmers of Plantation Hope, Bath Housing Scheme and the adjoining No.11 Woodley Park. GuySuCo, after a bout of intensive rainfall, most irresponsibly pumped out water from the Blairmont Estate into the main drainage channel thereby inundating the farmers in these areas.
Millions of dollars worth of produce was destroyed. Subsequently these farmers assisted by the AFC team in Bath Settlement, sought an audience with the Regional Chairman and his team.
The Regional Agriculture Coordinator opined quite dismissively that the residents did not understand the working of the drainage system and that they were exaggerating the extent of their losses.
The AFC believes that such high handed and conceited behaviour by a servant of the State is not in consonance with the ideals of good governance. The Alliance for Change submits that servants of the State in their interaction with populace must at all times display the virtue of empathy and sympathy.
To the beleaguered and downtrodden working masses of Guyana, the AFC wishes to say that we hear your cry and feel your pain. In our Action Plan, we have enunciated and adumbrated our plan for the economic revival of Guyana.
The industrial policy of the AFC has been specially crafted and designed to stimulate and ignite an industrial awakening which will provide the volume and quality of employment that is characteristic of a fast developing state.
The AFC believes that the entrepreneurial spirit of the private investor can effectively function as the engine of growth, bringing into being robust and sustainable levels of economic growth and development.

---

---