For the first time in over 25 years, Guyanese workers can expect one May Day rally as well as more cooperation within the fractured trade union movement.
This is according to representatives from the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).
At a press conference held at GTUC headquarters yesterday, General Secretary of FITUG Kenneth Joseph said Guyanese unions “are now in process of rebuilding and establishing a unified movement to address a number of matters that are of common concern for us.”
He explained that these efforts are as a results of a realization that the issues being faced would be best addressed in a unified manner.
The trade unionist could not say if this unification would mean FITUG being reintegrated into the GTUC.
GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis in response to questions on the matter said, “We are not talking about unity but issues. You can’t meet a woman today as a man and tell her you going to be married, you discuss issues first. We are working on a united movement though the structure is still to be decided.”
Joseph however was clearer. “FITUG is not averse to becoming affiliated once again to the GTUC we are trade unionists and the division or difference between us is that we are not affiliated,” he declared.
FITUG whose members include the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) had up to last year maintained a separation from the GTUC. Local commentators had said that the federation was being used by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic to destabilize the local trade union movement
Asked if its willingness to re-align itself with GTUC came as a result of the change in government, Joseph said “When the conditions are right, you do the things that you think you should do…The conditions are right. It might include changing of the government.”
However, he maintained that they not anti-government or anti-employer but “have a role as labour movement leaders to ensure that members receive the best possible treatment from workers and representation from the unions.”
Meanwhile Lewis once again called for a dedicated Ministry of Labour.
“We are looking for Ministry of Labour. This is the first time in the history of this country that we have a government without a Ministry of Labour. We are living in a time that government is talking about a green economy.
A green economy is built on sustainable development, environment and labour policies. Labour has a strategic role to play in development. Labour is not a part of social protection. Social protection is part of labour,” he said.
The Ministry of Social Protection has responsibility for labour with Minister within the Ministry Keith Scott executing the portfolio.
The minister had claimed to be working with the unions to realize a joint rally. However, Lewis was adamant that it is the labour movement and no one else that is responsible for organizing Labour Week activities.
“The Labour Day rally falls squarely within the remit of the trade union movement. We will not allow anyone to attempt to usurp the functions or responsibility of this group. Labour will not be used. You are going to drive our agenda no one external to labour can drive labour’s agenda,” he stressed.
Seven unions, disenchanted with the leadership of the TUC, split from the body in 1988 and formed FITUG.
