By Johann Earle
With the labour movement still deeply divided, speakers at this year’s GTUC
May Day rally pilloried the government over the cost of living and the cutting of the state subvention to the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) among other areas and PM Sam Hinds was given a rough reception.
Following yesterday’s morning’s traditional march, Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) affiliates rallied at the CLC on Woolford Avenue while affiliates of the rival FITUG gathered at the National Park. The GTUC rally was marred by the rude treatment of Prime Minister Hinds shortly after he arrived at CLC. Hinds had been invited to the event by the leadership of the GTUC.
Speaking at the rally held in the CLC compound, Coretta McDonald of the GTUC said the members were angry at the state of the country and on the approach to these problems by the leadership of the Guyana Trades Union Congress.
She noted that the labour movement preceded the political movement of the country and that it was labour that first challenged the merchant class and the colonial masters.
She said that among the issues that were causing the anger were the Guyana Power and Light’s high charges for electricity, attacks on freedom of speech, the sloth at which persons are attended to at the Georgetown Hospital, the withholding of the subvention for the CLC by the Government, and the services of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).
“The issues I have raised make me angry. The GTUC has to put its house in order and it starts with the Central Executive Committee. It needs to be strengthened and this can only be realised when there is unity of purpose on issues,” she said. “It is time we started doing what is right. It is time for some members of the executives to stop signing agreements (without the full knowledge of members).”
Not for sale
“Brothers and sisters, the workers here are not for sale,” she said.
Speaking at the rally, Red Thread’s Karen De Souza said: “We are once again in the midst of a divided workforce. The position of Red Thread is that we have to stand up for the rights of workers. If we don’t do that we will always be [in this position],” she said.
De Souza added that the work done by women in the home needs to be recognised and counted, as this has never been so.
“Start from where it begins, in the home,” she said, adding that it is in the home that the work must be done to raise people who will later on join the labour force.
