The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) says the recent teachers strike has underlined that Guyanese from all races and communities can come together on issues.
The GTUC in a statement yesterday said that whilst giving support to the workers and teachers’ union cause, it joined the court case because it believed that the PPP/C Government was setting out to cut off the lifeblood of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and if successful it would have turned on any union challenging their violations and transgressions.
It said that the trade union community must recognise that the GTU has led the way on this landmark victory, which is important not only to Guyana, but the wider Caribbean and CARICOM nations.
It made special mention of GTU President Andrew Lyte and General Secretary Coretta McDonald, the “boots and slippers” of the teachers, on the ground for their frontline leadership.
“The labour union has proven with its collective membership from all races and communities that Guyanese can come together on issues, fight and win their battles and struggles against common threats to their collective well-being. It’s a lesson that must be enshrined. Our teachers from all races, ethnic and political persuasions rejected race, ethnic and political baiting to show the world and other Guya-nese we can achieve as a united labour movement”, the umbrella union said.
Before the GTUC joined the teacher’s case, the statement there was a meeting with Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde where they discussed the struggles of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, protecting the value and integrity of the Guyana Constitution, particularly Article 147, and the ILO Conventions.
“We sealed the deal and it brought great relief when asked about cost to hear Mr. Forde say immediately, `No cost! it’s about the cause, let us fight’”, the GTUC related.
The GTUC said that a key issue addressed by Justice Sandil Kissoon, was Article 147 of the Guyana constitution, which speaks to the ‘Protection of freedom of assembly, association and demonstration’, to the right to strike and collective bargaining. This demonstrates that the constitution can work, and is there to protect and advance the rights of citizens, and not to embolden governments to transgress them.
The GTU said that the decision of the court included that there exists a right to strike in the circumstances where an employer has taken the decision not to negotiate with the trade union.
Also cited by the GTUC was the court’s criticism of the performance of the duties of the Chief Labour Officer in seeking to address the issues as requested by the union.
“GTUC was convinced, it had made the correct decision to recruit Forde, for he was incisive, thorough, well prepared and commanded our deserved space in the courtroom. There was a general palpable feeling of appreciation for this move by the GTUC, and Forde delivered with great skill establishing his well-deserved bona fides as a senior legal officer”, the statement said.
It also thanked all those who contributed including former minister, Senior Counsel Basil Williams; attorney-at-law Darren Wade and current trade union leaders and teachers.
