Two reactions to similar situation

Jan 20, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
On page 14 of the Sunday edition of the Guyana Times Newspapers captioned ’50% Severance payment not enough—GTUC’, as a Vice- President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, I would like to make it pellucid that the Executive of our Organization never had any discussion on the closure of the Sugar Estates and the resulting effects same would have on the workers and the Economy.
Those concerns expressed are obviously that person’s personal view. What is dangerous about his exuberant excursion into such matters, is that such singular utterances could well fuel Guyana’s simmering political and racial insecurities, therefore it is of utmost importance that the GTUC treat this matter as a collective.
Severance payment is earned consistent with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, to determine if an employer has the means to make a one off payment. What is honourable and quite clear, is the present Government public declaration that the Sugar Workers will be paid half of their Severance now and the other half later in the year.
A public statement was made, thereby cementing a guarantee, which is much more than some Labour Organization can match, since they owe many of their retired staff Severance and Salaries earned. Many years have passed and they are still to be paid.
It is indeed very honourable of that person whom I am sure is a GTUC Executive to show Solidarity with the Severed Sugar workers and more so the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Guyana( FITUG). The Labour Organization under whose umbrella the Sugar Workers Union/s fall.
The GTUC needs to have internal discussions as a collective, then have discussions with FITUG, followed by a joint press release, if necessary. However, one ought not to forget that under the previous Government FITUG was treated like royalty comparable to what Roman ruler, Caligula, had conferred on his horse.
What is also worthy of note under the same Government, when the Bauxite Industry was being dismantled the affected workers did not receive their Severance immediately. What they got was the money from their Pension Plan.
With Rusal, a former Chief Labour Officer was employed there as a Labour Consultant who seemed bent on ensuring that there was a counter to every Labour violation that the workers objected to.
The former Government stopped the Critchlow Labour College Subvention but ensured that GAWU got the Subvention for its Labour College in Kingston, Georgetown.
Under the PPP Government there were many brutal Labour violations including the three mentioned above and ironically with its open assault on Labour and the GTUC in particular, FITUG was silent.
The question is asked ‘Were they patiently and quietly awaiting the death and burial of the GTUC? In closing, l would like to see this ‘Standard Bearer’ of Trade Union Militancy and Solidarity, display the same passion on behalf of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union members (an affiliate of the GTUC), who are presently fighting for their very survival.
Eon Andrews.
Vice-president.
GTUC.

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