The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has urged workers to take “every bit of caution” with their salaries and wages to cushion the impact of the global economic crisis and to support their unions.
In a New Year’s message GTUC President Gillian Burton said the crisis will have serious implications for developing countries which has been evidenced locally by the reduction of remittances to Guyana. As such, she urged workers to “stand resolute behind their unions to police its business and operations and hold executives responsible and accountable for its maintenance.”
Burton said too the calls for the repeal of the Value-Added Tax have gone unheeded and public servants continue to remain “victims of depression and marginalization.” Therefore, workers must cease to squander their meagre wages and salaries on “frivolous social activities that come disguised as methods of relaxation but which are really weapons of distraction that divert our attention from the real picture.”
Meanwhile, the GTUC said 2008 was another year where the labour movement ceased to progress. “What should have been the year that heralded the success of the much talked about reunification… remained one of disillusion and bitter enmity, especially for those who dared to envision a militant and innovative labour movement,” Burton said. Trade union leaders have fallen short of the mandate entrusted to them by workers which has jeopardised their livelihoods. The GTUC said the inability to repair this divide has placed the movement in a further dilemma with the clandestine and hurried tabling of the Trade Union Recognition (Amendment) Bill 2008. However, due to the militancy and determination of the TUC and with the support of the Parliamentary opposition groups and other labour-friendly organisations a second reading of the Bill was deferred, it said. The bill was eventually passed on Friday despite further attempts to have it deferred.
The GTUC said unions must safeguard the legacy of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the architect of the trade union movement in Guyana and unite to protect workers.
Additionally, the GTUC called for national support of government initiatives such as the National Competitiveness Strategy, the TACKLE project which seeks to eradicate child labour, the HIV/AIDS National Workplace Policy and the technical paper on Avoiding Deforestation.
The lackadaisical attitude towards enforcement of discipline in the civil service is a major reason for complacency and poor morale among its ranks
It is good to see that this union has resurrected and has finally found its voice for the interest of the workers. Hopefully politics will be set aside and the genuine workers concerns will be represented. For too long many unions have been the arm of the PNC and has been singing the PNC mantras. Hopefully the unions can move forward with the workers best interest at heart!
Good advise! Now start showing them how they can become true Business men and women from the things they do. Open up an Educational Club where your members can benifit new skills with the use of the internet and new technology.
Open up craft center to welcome past and present employee. Organise local and overseas trips to expose you union. Do you know that some of your members do not where Number five Village and Ithaca Village is in Guyana. Start the program know your country and invite Guyanese returning home tojoin you tour. This can be a small business for a member of the union….and we all will save and use our money wisely.
gillian burton is a rocket scientist to come up with this one.
Fuh true, Bhai. She ah tell people fuh spen wisely wha dem nah gat!
When Burton said workers needed money to have a good christmas. Christmas done and the money spent now Burton asking workers to spend wisely. These people crazy