Critchlow Labour College and the need for greater govt. financing

May 06, 2014 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
Change is indeed inevitable and one must veer with it, but we have to be clear which changes we are going into.
I know a few trade unionists will be harsh with me on my views. We advocate that they need to adjust their attitudes, their paternalism, their exploitation and a host of other traditional things we say about legislators and employers. We say they must change because times are changing.
There are some trade unionists who also have entrenched vested interests in the traditional system and it is indeed difficult for anyone to give up his/her vested interest. Yet it has to be done and so I say that if it is going to be done then do not let someone do it for you, carve the road out yourself, consistent with the realities of change.
The first part deals very briefly with the establishment of the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) and of its operation on 1st May, 1965 as an integral part of the Trades Union Council of Guyana to provide Trade Union Education and training at all levels of trade union organization and management. But as the work of the Institute expanded it became evident that for trade union education and training to be meaningful, it has broadened coherently structured.
The second part is a summary analysis of the future prospects of the institution and justification for greater government financing. The Trade Union Council decided in 1967 to change the structure and broaden the administration of the Institute by inviting representatives of the Government of Guyana, the University of Guyana and the general public.
This decision of the Council was influenced by its awareness of the expanding role and increasing responsibilities which the Trade Unions in Guyana would have to take on – “the need for a Labour College arises out of the expanded role and responsibility of Trade Unions in Guyana”.  The third part accordance to the Critchlow Labour College is Private Company registered on 12th June, 1968 under “The Companies Ordinance Chapter 328” of the Laws of Guyana.
The former Honourable Minister of Labour Winslow Carrington expressed some concern about the extent of deficit as shown in the College’s 1972 financial report and implied that the deficit suggested a need for greater financial control. The Board of Governors would wish to assure the Minister that their spending since 1969 has been done with utmost consideration to achieve maximum efficiency.
The deficit is a result of bad spending. But finance, though important to the growth of the institution, is not the only problem; uncertainty of the Board of Governors, their attitude and policy towards the College is another matter of grave concern. I hold the view that the Critchlow Labour College along with other trade unions can and must play a major role in the development of Guyana. It is this view that influenced our development in the past and will continue to guide us in the future as we continue to develop.
As it relates to the immediate priorities of Labour Education in Guyana, consideration must be given to: –
1. The modern concept of the Role of the Trade Union.
2. The current problems of the Trade Union.
3. Possible solutions.
·    The need to convince Trade Union Leaders of the necessity for Labour Education.
·    The need to foster a consciousness of the importance and value of the Trade Union Movement as socio-economic Machinery Committee not only to the improvement of its particular members, but also to national development.
·    The need to develop among rank and file members an understanding of the reasons and importance of their active interest and participation in day-to-day activities of their Union.
·    The need to develop among Trade Union Officers and Rank and File members a working knowledge of modern methods of administration and financial management.
·    The need to give to workers knowledge of the attributes and personal qualities necessary for successful Trade Union leadership.
·    The need to imbue into Trade Union Leaders the importance of their attitude in influencing not only the attitude of management but also the attitude of their members in their day-to-day relations.
·    The need to provide the Trade Union Leader with a certain measure of technical knowledge necessary to facilitate his or her dealings with management personnel and rank file members, Human Relations, Industrial Psychology, Elementary Economics and Administration.
·    The need to provide Trade Union Leaders with a knowledge and awareness of the social economic and political factors affecting the lives of the workers, and the responsibility of the Trade Union to influence these factors.
·    The need for training Trade Union personnel as Labour Educators, since this represent a special branch of Adult Education necessitating specialized training in the use of material, techniques, methods and audio – visual aids.
·    Identify the various needs for Caribbean Text Books on Trade Unionism.
·    Basic facts simply and attractively presented in a manner to encourage the Rank and File Worker to read, example: –
1. Why a Trade Union?
2. How is a Trade Union organized?
3. Trade Union and Money
4. 10 questions and Answers on Trade Union
5. What have Trade Unions done for Society?
6. What can a Trade Union do for me?
7. Who built Caribbean Trade Unionism and how did they do it?
8. The worker and Law.
9. The Union and its members.
Material compiled and designed for use of the Labour Educators, including not only relevant subjects for teaching, but also indicating methods and techniques of presentation, for example: –
1. Organization and Management of Trade Unions.
2. Labour Economics in the Caribbean.
3. Administration of Trade Union Finance.
4. History and Development of Trade Unions in the Caribbean.
5. Industrial Legislation in the Caribbean.
6. Trade Unions and Economic Development in the Caribbean.
7. Trade Unions and Politics in the Caribbean.
8. Collective Bargaining in the Caribbean.
9. Security of Trade Union Employees in the Caribbean.
The role of Government in promoting Labour Education in Guyana is imperative. The Government should allot time on Radio and Television and provide a budget for Labour Education where a National body is formed and funds should be made available to that body. There used to be a radio programme called ‘Voice of Labour’ every Saturday on Labour issues and challenges faced by labour.
Sherwood Clarke
General President
Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union

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