GTUC three-day conference opens today

Nov 08, 2023 News

…will address border controversy, cash transfer

Kaieteur News – The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) will be hosting its 5th Triennial Delegates Conference during the period 8th – 10th November, 2023 at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. The Conference will be held under the theme “Advancing the Workers’ Struggle, for Social and Economic Justice”

Former Government Minister Mr. Carl Greenidge will deliver the Opening Address on Wednesday, 8th November. This conference is expected to attract approximately 120 delegates drawn from the affiliates of the GTUC. The GTUC has also invited Observers from non-affiliated unions to participate, the union said in a press release.

On days two and three delegates and observers will participate in business sessions covering areas such as the General Secretary’s Report, Governance (inclusionary democracy), Guyana/Venezuela border controversy, Cash Transfer/Direct Payment, Collective Bargaining, the sustainability of the National Insurance Scheme, among others. Among the resource personnel who will be participating in the business sessions are Professor Clive Thomas, Mr. Christopher Ram, Dr. Gray Bess, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde M.P, among others

This triennial conference comes at the time when workers’ rights are facing serious threats and the nation informed by President Irfaan Ali the population is expected to grow to three million by 2030, GTUC said. This growth registered at least 2.1 million increase to the population. This expected increase comes at a time when unemployment is high and calls by the trade unions to create a national job policy are being ignored. GTUC said it is on record calling for concerted national efforts to equip our education system that would allow for building local capacity through training and education for the unemployed and removal of mandatory retirement age to expand opportunities for greater participation of Guyanese workers in the oil and gas economy.

The conference also comes amidst intensified sabre rattling of the Venezuelan government in its continuous false claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. This has implications for frontline workers and their families who will be asked to sacrifice more to protect Guyana’s borders and for all workers/citizens who will share the responsibility for the protection and defence of our territorial integrity, which are deserving of urgent attention. Also on day three, there will be the election and installation of new office bearers. The media is invited to cover the events over the three days. The Opening Session begins at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 8th November, 2023. Days two and three sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th November 2023.

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Critchlow Labour College, Dr. Gray Bess, Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Mr. Christopher Ram, Professor Clive Thomas, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde M.P

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