Dear Editor,
Dr Cheddi Jagan was the son of down-trodden sugar workers, who was conscious of rich versus poor, of the economic and social disparity between classes and the need for struggle and solutions in the pursuit of social justice for all workers. Had he been around the labour movement would not have been a place of political rivalry, and the positions of the TUC could have evolved from consensus, without forcing anyone to defend his personal political rights. We must return to the days when the reasons we advance for adopting one or another position must be how this position affects the workers. The bauxite union through consistent struggles and militant action must regain collective bargaining rights and move earnings to a more satisfactory level, at the same time improving working conditions.
We hear over and over that the world is becoming more interdependent. There is much talk about the global economy. Employers are becoming united in transnational corporations and they do not allow differences of race, nationality or religion to affect their profits. This tells us that trade unions must seek closer co-operation internationally. Let us not divide ourselves into different bodies; rather, we should work towards creating one international workers’ organisation capable of defending the interests of all working people.
Allow me to extend my solidarity to bauxite workers who are defending their rights.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
