United TUC possible but rules need amending
-Chand tells GAWU
Stabroek News
May 2, 2002
The main sugar union believes that a united Trades Union Congress is possible but key amendments to its rules to ensure transparency and proportional representation must be agreed, GAWU President Komal Chand said yesterday in his May Day address.
With loud cheers from the group of mainly sugar workers who broke away from the Guyana Trades Union Congress (TUC) contingent which converged at the National Park at the end of the annual May Day march, Chand's group assembled at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) ground on Carifesta Avenue.
At the NIS ground there were short speeches from representatives of the various sugar estates in Region Four. The marchers were treated to popular music and refreshments.
Chand in a 20-minute address said that after the Cold War all had hoped that swords would have been beaten into the proverbial ploughshares and pruning hooks but that did not happen. "The world today is one of many conflicts which are consuming thousands of lives and eating up huge resources so much needed to alleviate poverty all over the globe", Chand said.
Noting that since the last May Day celebration the world had been gripped by the horrendous September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, Chand said "we condemn this vicious and barbaric act and express our solidarity with the people of the United States."
He further noted that terrorism has historically led to measures that curbed democracy and negatively affected the struggles of working people.
He lamented that ever since the 1997 General Elections, Guyana has been experiencing tremendous political problems. "Those problems have impacted on the social and economic development of our country. The rapid strides which we began to make from the beginning of the last decade have been slowed as a result of street violence and arson of business places," Chand said. GAWU's headquarters was burnt to the ground in the major fire that ripped through Regent and Robb Streets on April 9, 2001.
Chand said that in their interest, workers should strive for an end to politics degenerating into senseless confrontation. "It is in the interest of all workers that democracy be defended and protected at all costs, for if again it is hijacked, the working-class will be its foremost victims." He said history has shown that a lack of democracy leads to a decline in every aspect of social and economic life. He argued that labour must therefore strive for the broadening of democratic norms. "It is a time when the slogan "workers unite" has even greater meaning, I say this because some union leaders who have hidden agendas are working hard to prevent the unity of the working class. Sadly ethnicity is a factor that is being used to achieve this objective."
He called on the marchers and all Guyana to reject those who use racial considerations to achieve political and other objectives. "At this time we urge that the Ethnic Relations Commission should become functional without delay." He contended that recent years saw some fundamental gains with the enacting of The Trade Union Recognition Act, The Prevention of Discrimination Act, the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, The Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Holidays with Pay Act.
Chand said that workers continue to demand an improvement in their working conditions. He opined that the income tax threshold should have been expanded from the present $18,000 where it has been stuck for several years. "GAWU also contended that it is long overdue for the government to revamp the income tax allowances and to capture into the tax net those thousands who continue to earn fat sums and either pay a pittance or no income tax," Chand declared. He said his union has taken careful notice of the privatisation process which commenced almost 15 years ago. He said from the results starting with the National Paint Company and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company to the Guyana Electricity Corporation the experience of the ordinary Guyanese is sad. "At the moment the services of GT&T and the Guyana Power and Light have left much to be desired. It is to be noted that a nation's critical utilities play a major role in the provision of an acceptable quality of life."
Chand spoke about the crime situation in the country and said GAWU is concerned about the role of certain media and political personalities who seemingly are in collusion with the criminals. "Ultimately crime knows no class, race, religion or even politics." He called on all to support the police in the fight against crime. "This is an uphill task and one which cannot be done or left solely on the police force." Referring to its problems with the Trades Union Congress, from which it is estranged, Chand remarked that his union believed that a united Trades Union Congress was possible. "Both sides must be frank, the bottom line is an agreement on the amendments of the TUC rules to recognise transparency, accountability, representation in proportion to the number of verifiable registered union members and the non-accommodation of paper unions." Further, he said GAWU is of the considered view that the Guyana Trades Union Congress and its spokespersons must not be perceived as being partisan or serving only a few of its affiliates. "A united TUC is grounded in democratic rules and respect for constitutional and democratic government has an important role to play in uniting the working people in the pursuit of betterment and progressive development." Chand applauded the government for its decision to stop exacting the sugar levy from Guysuco. He said that his union also noted the progress in terms of inclusive governance made through the dialogue process between President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC/R Leader Desmond Hoyte.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford in a short address called on all unions to free themselves from narrow partisan interest and work towards satisfying the needs of their members. She told them that it was no use if they work hard to make a living and at the end of the day they are robbed of their possessions. "It is time therefore for us to unite our efforts in fighting crime and support the police in the execution of their duties".
GAWU marched under the theme, `Taking back Guyana from racism and crime'.