Trade unionism in Guyana: Dying or dead?

May 01, 2014 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

There are two incredible facts about trade unionism in this country and the word, “incredible,” is simply too mild a descriptive term. The first is that some of the most powerful trade unions are shamelessly attached to and supportive of the power of the party in government.

For these unions, political support comes before trade union militancy. In fact, the head of the biggest union, Komal Chand of the sugar organization, GAWU, has been an inner member of the PPP hierarchy for over forty years.

The second one is even more bizarre. Those unions have enjoyed a twenty-two-year-old relation with the party in power and have absolutely nothing to show for their sycophancy. Isn’t life about, “I do for you, you do for me?”

Isn’t this an inherent instinct of civilized life? But what do these servile unions get from the central government in terms of economic elevation of their members?

If you think these two facts are unbelievable, there are even more disturbing aspects of this masochistic/sadistic relation. Take the CCWU. Its bargaining power in public sector entities has been whittled down over the past fifteen years. The CCCW has received absolutely nothing for its prostitution which of course is a contradiction in terms.

A prostitute sells a service and receives an income. If you try to rob her, she solicits the help of a “pimp.’ So a prostitute does not go empty-handed. In the case of the CCWU, it remains the exception of a prostitute who works for nothing.

Today, at the May Day march sponsored by the TUC, the CCWU will be seen in the parade, then, it follows the instruction of the Government and swings into the National Park or another location instead of the TUC compound.

The CCWU lives in a prison. It cannot break out of the pro-government group under the acronym, FITUG, because once it does that, the PPP will view it as a hostile act and probably remove its representation in the public sector. That will eventually be the funeral service for the CCWU.

This writer was told that CCWU made efforts to talk to the management of Republic Bank for representation but was bluntly told by the Champion of Garbage that it should allow NAACIE to do it.

NAACIE then began negotiations with Republic Bank. One of my UG students at that time informed me and I went to see the seniors of the Bank. I insisted that if they allow NAACIE to address their employees then they have to provide that opportunity to NAACIE’s competitors.

The bank agreed but never invited the other unions although it shelved the NAACIE application. The head of NAACIE told the Stabroek News in a published interview that Republic Bank’s employees are without representation because I sabotaged the process. Unapologetically, I say I’m glad I did though I would reject that nasty term, “sabotage.”

A dying CCWU cries out from its hospital bed. When it was alive, the CCWU had a thriving restaurant and drinking spot at its head office on Quamina Street. The Friday night lime there was really satisfying. Lack of funds has killed that off.

If ever there was an example of sadism and masochism in trade unionism it is the moribund CCWU.

There is the tale of the Guyana Labour Union. Traditionally tied to the PNC because of the skills of the PNC founder, Forbes Burnham, the GLU broke away from the PNC and went straight into the arms of the PPP. And who achieved this? Its head, Carvil Duncan.

I never spoke or saw Mr. Duncan before 2011. Then I met him at a forum of the Ethnic Relations Commission at the Princess Hotel and a conversation followed. How the PNC allowed such an intellectually limited, uncharismatic, poor leader to take the GLU into the orbit of the PPP remains a sore on Guyanese history.

Then there are the two sugar slaves – NAACIE and GAWU. It was shocking to see how both unions were using their resources to campaign for the PPP in the 2011 elections. Essentially East Indian oriented because of the niche they were born into, these two unions became alive because of the politics of President Forbes Burnham. NAACIE took the Burnham Government to arbitration and won a stupendous sum under the chairmanship of J.O.F. Haynes and bought its present head office. GAWU was given legal recognition by President Burnham.

When you survey the rest of the trade union scene, it isn’t a nice picture. A financially strapped TUC with its affiliates marches on as we will see today. The great trade union movement of Guyana may be dying.

Latest News

Trade unionism in Guyana: Dying or dead?

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 4th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest tips off today

Twin tons from Anderson, Imlach steer Eagles back...

Race for quarterfinal spots commence today at MoE...

Marsh sets up Lucknow’s comfortable win...

Saints and GTI dominate as YBG Georgetown...

Carty misses ton, Hamilton (80) sets up tense...

Features/Columnists

The One-Man Republic

The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation

Polls – what they say, where I stand

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Trade unionism in Guyana: Dying or dead?

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 4th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]