MAY DAY MESSAGES

May 01, 2017 News

PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) joins all Guyanese workers as well as those of our Region and the world at large in celebrating Labour Day.
This is usually the occasion when the workers of the world and the organizations which represent them take stock of their situations and conditions and resolve to take strong and determined actions to ensure that their gains are preserved, and that the fight continues for a better future.
On this occasion, the PNCR recognizes the critical role that Trade Unions have played in the political, economic and social development of the country and asserts that such a role can only continue if the Trade Union Movement as a whole remains united and protect the interests of the workers of this country.
The Party also admonishes the trade union movement to recognize that the current era demands that Trade Unions must make necessary adjustments to cope with the existing and emerging challenges, so that they can survive and remain relevant.
The PNCR salutes the workers of this nation as we struggle to create a more cohesive and prosperous Guyana where all can achieve the promised good life.
The PNCR asserts that such a society can only come about if the Trade Union Movement as a whole is united and protect the interests of the workers of this country.
The Party also admonishes the trade union movement to recognize that the current era demands that Trade Unions must make necessary adjustments to cope with the existing and emerging challenges, so that they can survive and remain relevant.
Solidarity forever!
People’s National Congress Reform
Congress Place, Sophia

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The Guyana Teachers’ Union

Labour Day is celebrated in many countries on May 1st and is popularly known as May Day. Labour Day in Guyana is also celebrated on this date. The Guyana Teachers’ Union joins other Trade unions across the world in stressingthe importance of workers to the development of society.
Workers in Guyana face many challenges which seek to daunt their spirits and affect their moral. Today we mobilize with our brothers and sisters from other unions to promote the 2017 theme Organizing -Necessary Pre-requisite in Building a Strong United Trade Union Movement.”
It is hard to comprehend how we as workers will ever be strong unless we unite. The plan of our Colonial Masters’ decades ago was to separate or divide the Slaves and Indentured Servants from their families and tribes so that control would be easily achieved.
This was achieved over an extended period until slaves came together and rebelled against the harsh treatment they received. Today workers are not managed by Colonial Masters’ but governments who decide what is good for us. However, for too long we have not had governments in Guyana who truly understood the plight of workers through their actions.
Trade Unions in Guyana have been divided along the political lines because union leaders have become too attached to politicians and have forgotten the need to represent the interest of workers with due diligence.
The carrion call today is to unite for strength so that we can achieve more for workers. We need to unit to address not only salary but non salary issues.
These issues are numerous and needs our collective effort as a Trade Union Movement if we are to make an impact as workers’ representatives. A few of the things which need to be addressed from the GTU’s prospective are:
• Healthy and safety in the work place
• Collective bargaining
• Fairness in the promotion process
• Increase in salary
• Much anticipated debunching pay out
• Adequate and proper housing for our hinterland teachers.
• Adequate and relevant resources for teachers to use in the classroom.
Trade Union Movement must unite and come alive so that we can collectively address the issues affecting every worker across the length and breathe of Guyana.
On this Labor Day, I hope we will commit to being even more active than we have been in the past, and help lead a massive and United TradeMovement in Guyana. Let us demand of our leaders the need to be neutral from politics so that workers’ rights and interests will be championed.
On behalf of the Central Executives of The Guyana Teachers’ Union, I take this opportunity to wish all workers around the world especially those here in Guyana including our hard working teachers a blessed and happy Labour Day 2017.
GTU President

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Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) extends warm and fraternal greetings to the workers of Guyana on the occasion of Labour Day 2017. This year, as workers in various parts of the country take part in marches and rallies, the GAWU is pleased to record that the observances are characterized by greater signs of unity in the trade union movement.
Such togetherness is needed especially at this time when our working-people are confronted by increasing pressures and heavier burdens.
The GAWU is also saddened to record that for the first time, in a long time, Labour Day finds workers and their families in a state of great uncertainty and having to contend with steadily declining living standards and an ever increasing cost of living. We see deteriorating economic circumstances serving to devalue our dollar and increasing the cost of imports. At the same time, additional burdens are placed on workers backs with the taxation of previously untaxed essential goods and services; the introduction of new taxes; the hiking of extant taxes; the significant increases in the cost of Government fees, among other things. In such a depressing state we see the promise of a ‘Good Life’ becoming increasingly elusive.
For the nation’s sugar workers, Labour Day celebrations are most bitter. Not only are they the only segment of the state’s employees to be denied pay rises and incentive payments,but now salt is being rubbed into the deep wounds inflicted on the heels of the closure of Wales as thousands more stand to be gravely affected by the Administration’s closure and sell-out intentions for sugar. In totality, 9,000 workers will have their jobs lost and thus forced onto the breadline resulting from the Executive’s ill-considered and, seemingly ill-thought-out, decision on sugar. Aside from the workers tens of thousands of poor, hard-working Guyanese stand to be affected and scores of now vibrant villages will certainly experience falling standards. It seems, from our perspective, that the ‘Good Life’ is not applicable to this large section of Guyanese.
It is disheartening, and perplexing, that in spite of the massive social and economic consequences that will attend the industry’s miniaturization, the Executive remains headstrong and seemingly unconcerned. Clearly, it seems to us in GAWU, that the Government has selectively ignored the advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which had warned that the societal effects of the sugar decision must be considered foremostly. Such consideration is especially important when the alternatives proposed are seemingly non-starters. GAWU reiterates its strong view that sugar can be saved and be made sustainable. Key to such a feat we hold is a supportive Administration, a knowledgeable management, and committed workforce.
Indeed, the working-people, the students, the farmers, the youth, the pensioners are facing challenging and tough times. But, at the same time, we are also seeing increasingly the fight back and resistance to the harsh decisions being taken. This is indeed a positive development and one that augurs well for our people and that should be actively and widely supported. As the workers and their organisations celebrate Labour Day, the GAWU looks to the unity displayed today being consolidated. This is a demand of the times in which we live and is in the interest of Guyana’s working-people and our nation’s future as well.