From 1905 to 2016; workers’ exploitation remains

May 01, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Labour Day 2016 is occurring 90 years after the Caribbean Labour Leaders met in Georgetown (March 1926), where they put in place a strategy which included among other things, the struggle for 8-hour work day, 40-hour work week, right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, internal self-government, and one-man-one-vote. All of the mentioned were achieved by the trade union movement.
Today workers- past, present and potential, unionised and non-unionised- must not only reflect on the sterling contributions they have made to the development of Guyana but also take stock of the present state of affairs they are made to work and live under.
Workers/citizens have been witnessing a rolling back of the gains made by the trade union. The sustained violation of laws and transgressing of rights emerged during the Bharrat Jagdeo presidency as a matter of policy. This has seen contempt shown for the right to collective bargaining and freedom of association. Workers have also been subjected to work 10 and 12-hour work day imposed by the management. Labour Officers who are supposed to be enforcing the Labour Laws have been advised by the politicians to turn a blind eye to the numerous transgressions of workers’ rights and violation of laws.
There remains the more than six years unresolved grievances with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), a company owned by the Government of Guyana and RUSAL. The workers/citizens of this country continue to witness the most egregious attacks on them in post-independent Guyana by their government in cahoots with foreign management.
The refusal to attend to grievances as prescribed under the laws happened during the stewardship of Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir. Nadir’s misconduct could not have continued without the instruction or support from Jagdeo. It is instructive to note during Donald Ramotar presidency Minister of Labour Nanda Gopaul ordered the matters relating to BCGI be placed before an arbitration panel in accordance with the law. While BCGI challenged the decision and the court ruled for the reissuing of arbitration letters to commence the process, the Jagdeo cabal in the Ramotar cabinet undermined the course of justice.
The APNU and AFC in opposition condemned the Jagdeo government for disregarding the law that would bring resolution to the BCGI matter. They condemned the Ramotar government for not respecting the court’s decision. A year into the APNU+AFC administration President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo stand in contempt of the court’s ruling.
While Jagdeo was contemptuous of the rule of law and the rights of citizens and Ramotar was hindered by the Jagdeo cabal to enforce the court’s ruling, every worker and citizen must ask the question: ‘What is responsible for Granger and Nagamootoo continuous contempt for the court’s decision, the Rule of Law, rights of workers, and the Oath of Office they sworn to?’
The non-resolution of the BCGI matter rests squarely at the feet of the President of Guyana, who by virtue of being the nation’s chief executive officer is expected to give leadership to the Executive in obeying the 2012 decision of the Judiciary. Until the decision of the judiciary is respected, the Granger/Nagamootoo executive has no moral authority to tell citizens about respecting laws when they themselves are engaging in lawless conduct. Further, the Executive cannot convince the citizenry that they are serious about fighting crime when they themselves are conducting a criminal act against workers/citizens.
2016 finds workers in similar mode at they were in 1905, when Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow had cause to lead dockworkers in public protest against the atrocities of the colonial authority and merchant class. When workers march today, they carry the burden that their gains have eroded under the Jagdeo government and continue today under the Granger/Nagamootoo administration.
Lincoln Lewis

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