The absence of a united labour movement has stymied the gains of the working class, President Irfaan Ali said as he described the division as “sad.”
“Yet another May Day finds the local labour movement divided. A fractured labour movement undermines workers’ solidarity. This is far from desirable in protecting workers rights and consolidating their gains,” the Head of State posited in his May Day nationwide address.
Ali stressed there must be unity among the parties in order to create better working conditions and upliftment for workers.
He let it be known that he is prepared to be part of fashioning a new era of relations among government, labour movement and the private sector.
“A new compact is needed between labour and the government and between the labour movement and its members.”
In the same breath, however, he said, “I remain open through a tripartite dialogue between labour, the private sector and the government. May Day reminds us of the legacies of workers, the legacy can only be preserved through greater collaboration and cooperation.”
He went on to state that workers must also play a part in being responsible for themselves to restore more vitality and accountability in their unions.
“We, the inheritors of the gains, of these struggles, have an obligation to consolidate workers’ rights and advances,” Ali said.
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) Treasurer, Seepaul Narine, in his May Day address also expressed disappointment at the fact that the workers’ movement remains divided when their cause and objectives are mutual.
FITUG nonetheless, he said, remains committed to unity in the trade union movement as it is in the interest of the nation’s workers.
“…unity cannot come at any cost. It must rest on the principles of the workers’ movement and commitment to working class ideals and not selfish desires. We are disheartened to know that some colleagues on the other side have departed from those time-honoured principles. The FITUG still holds hope that changes will be forthcoming, and unity is realized,” Narine said during his address at the National Park.
He also urged for workers to work together to end exploitation, eradicate child labour, improve workers’ safety, ensure social protections, address labour shortages, and ensure greater competitiveness and efficiency, all of which are vital to long term and sustainable growth and development.”
Meanwhile, President Ali further urged that there be collaboration. “Let us work together to end exploitation, eradicate child labour, improve workers’ safety, ensure social protections, address labour shortages, and ensure greater competitiveness and efficiency, all of which are vital to long term and sustainable growth and development.”
The Head-of-State in his address stressed that under his government all Guyanese workers will benefit from the country’s rapid economic and social transformation.
“I assure all the workers of Guyana that not only will they benefit significantly from this country’s economic and social transformation, but that they will be one of the principal forces driving this process.”
Moreover, Ali also noted that he is aiming to work with all stakeholders to develop a holistic vision for the labour force and the job market.
He explained that the aim of this approach is to meet and support the demands of the local job market, which is plagued by a shortage of skilled workers and ways in which workers can be uplifted.
In his address, he emphasised that in advancing any cause, all stakeholders should unify around one common agenda, which is Guyana.
On May Day, President Ali hosted representatives of the unions, including the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU); the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU); the National Association of Clerical, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NACCIE); the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) for breakfast.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton; and Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag were also present.
