Hundreds of workers from different unions across the country braved the weather to march together as a historic Labour Day saw the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) rally together for the first time in over two decades.
Armed with their umbrellas to protect them from the sporadic rainfall, the workers bore jubilant faces and expressed excitement as they marched through the city yesterday, their bright shirts painting the streets red. The march from Parade Ground began an hour later than the slated 7:30am start but that did not discourage the groups as the crowd grew by the minute. Persons from Berbice and Linden blended in with the Georgetown folk and fell in with their respective unions as the amalgamated groups paraded with one purpose.
“This morning I am overjoyed to see the unions all coming together. For the past 23 years we would have seen a division of the unions. I can remember one time when we were marching together downtown and going to the National Park and one of the banners were torn in half,” Steven Hall, one of the persons rallying yesterday told Stabroek News. He said while he is not currently part of any union, he is happy to see the unity between FITUG, GAWU and GTUC. He said this is what Guyana needs and expressed high hopes that it continues throughout the years.
“Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever,” filled the air as the unions sang together. “…For the union makes us strong,” the groups shouted and continued singing throughout the walk. As the march wended its way through the city, persons held each other’s hands in unity as they passed under the Independence Arch at Brickdam.
The march ended at the National Park and it was a historic moment. In previous years, the unions had split before reaching the National Park and held separate rallies but this time, all ended up at one venue.
Among the unions marching were the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Amalga-mated Transport and General Workers Union, the Union of Agriculture and Allied Workers, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).
Carvil Duncan, president of FITUG, dubbed the rally as “the beginning of unity in the trade union movement.
“….And I hope that we can use this May Day, when we come together, as a catalyst to move forward and so that we can unite in everything thereafter and before the end of this year we can have one TUC [Trades Union Congress],” Duncan said. He added that the most important thing is the unity between the two umbrella unions and highlighted that the bodies should always look after the interests of the workers.
“Well I want to see a united movement where we have issues affecting workers discussed. For example the public servants have an issue where they haven’t gotten an increase in their salary as yet and those things are going to be echoed at today’s (yesterday’s) rally,” he said. Duncan emphasised that the unions need to ensure that they achieve something for the workers.
It was expected that the turnout would have been small because of the weather but Duncan said the turnout indicated the loyalty that persons have to the movement.
GPSU President Patrick Yarde expressed similar sentiments. He said the “the appearance of the genuine intention to unite the workers” was encouraging and while it is a day to reflect on the challenges, there are many more ahead. Yarde said issues such as total and free collective bargaining and respect for trade unions rights need to be addressed.
“The president has given a commitment and I believe in him but there are elements within the ranks that are still resistant to workers’ rights being respected,” he charged, while adding that there needs to be a unification with the public service.
Cathy Fowler from the Guyana Local Government Officers Union also lauded the turnout and the united march. “As we stand on the shoulders of what Critchlow has done for us, in my view we are only achieving a portion of what he has done for us because as you look, you can see so much differences going on and I am really disturbed about it,” she said.
While it was a peaceful march, members from Red Thread stood on Albert Street and armed with placards, protested what they dubbed as the “unions being unfair and ignoring domestic workers.
“Ever so often we see that domestic workers and a lot of other low wage workers are not being represented by any unions and they are the most exploited by their employers and so we are here to highlight the issues of what is happening with domestic workers,” Joy Marcus said. She explained that they are calling for the implementation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention 189 which gives rights to domestic workers. “We want to end the ‘lil bit money and plenty work’ and have domestic workers respected,” she added.
Another activist, Jocelyn Bacchus, highlighted that while the day is supposedly organised for workers, the domestic workers are excluded. She explained that household workers, school cleaners and other workers in the field are “invisible” but without them, the other workers would not be able to do their work.
“Just now somebody passed and said ‘if ya’ll don’t join a union then ya’ll don’t make sense’ but how would we join one when the unions see our work as nonproductive,” she questioned. Bacchus stated that while the implementation of the ILO convention 189 is not a cure for all, it will support the domestic workers.
