The biggest issue facing the labour movement
What the union members say about
By Andre Haynes
Stabroek News
May 3, 2004
with photos by Jules Gibson
During the annual May Day rallies on Saturday we asked some trade union members for their thoughts on the biggest issue facing the labour movement.
Marilyn Griffith - TUC assistant treasurer: `Politics. It's all about politics. The division in the union movement is politically motivated. That is why GAWU and NAACIE are out from the umbrella body, even though we've bent over to change the constitution for them. They can't give us a proper reason for why they are outside.
It has now reached a stage where the government functionaries are saying don't do this or you can't get that. Look at the TUC subventions that we used to get from the government, they have stopped it because GAWU is outside. Even the Labour Day contributions that we used to get, they have stopped that too. They want everything to be in control. But the unions are supposed to look at workers' benefits and workers' rights. How do you compromise that? People have a trust in us. But the government is still forcing certain things on the union and they continue to sign the labour conventions but they don't live up to them. And as a trade unionist, if you talk about it they say you have a vendetta against the government.'
Ramoutar - canecutter: `Globalisation and the threat of the EU market. I think the union and Guysuco now have to work together; they have to collaborate to safeguard jobs in the sugar industry.
GAWU needs to do more groundwork to educate its members about the challenges ahead because the majority of the work force doesn't know what is going on in the world.'
Anthony Joseph - ex-Supreme Court worker: `The biggest problem is politics. It is time that the politicians get out of the union movement. If you look at how things are now, all the unions are divided, not like before. All I see now is politics. Politicians need to leave the unions alone. Some politicians feel they can divide the unions, but it affects the workers because it threatens the strength of the unions involved. Look at the GPSU. The government has told the PSU that it can't take part in rallies and marches. They are basically telling the unions that they want control. But the unions need freedom. The government needs to stop the interference because it is creating division. They need to pay more attention to workers.'
Christine Fraser - postal and telegraph worker: `I think the biggest problem facing the unions is leadership. It's not the contributions because the unions are getting the money. It's vibrant leadership. If there is no proper leadership the unions won't be strong because they need proper leadership. The leaders need to communicate with the members. They need to educate them so that they can know what is the meaning of their contribution and understand their purpose. That is not happening now.
Patrice Liven - clerk: `I think disunity within the union movement is the biggest problem. Today [TUC] is [at Critchlow] and NAACIE and GAWU are at the NIS ground. If employers manage to separate us they can do anything, they can divide and rule. As long as the unions are united government can't get a foothold in the unions...
But right now they have a body hold. Politics has a lot to do with it. But this is not something that has only started the other day... this is something that politicians have been doing since the indentureship period.
Julie Samaroo - hospital attendant: `Unions are not getting us enough money but everything else is going up. We had to pay $140 to get here from Mahaica because the minibus fares raised. They have to do something because everything can't go up but the money we get.'
R. Johnson - postmaster: `The biggest problem is co-operation. Why I am saying this is because we sing the union song, 'Solidarity Forever', but people only go to the unions when they have problems. They don't come like today when it's time to show solidarity and celebrate. No. They only come when there is a problem. We have to be there, all for one and one for all. Also, some of the top guns in the union today are getting politically affiliated. But the union is supposed to be neutral. It's supposed to separate itself. Once you deal with politicians you will get problems. The union needs stand on the outside and just look on from the outside and do what they have to in the best interest of the workers.'
B. Persaud - GAWU representative: `The biggest problem facing the union now is Guysuco's proposal to take away the Annual Performance Incentives. Guysuco has proposed profit-based incentives, but the workers totally reject it. We want the API to continue like it has over the last 50 years. That is the biggest challenge facing GAWU now.'
Mahadai Seenauth - GAWU representative: `The biggest problem facing GAWU now is negotiating for the API and wages. Guysuco says that we can keep the APIs but they will have to close down one of the Demerara estates. Right now they are also talking about profit-based incentives but there are no profits. Guysuco says the government will subsidise the first year. Also, negotiating for wage increases is a problem because we have to do all sorts of things, we have to down tools and close down estates before we get what we want.'
Troy Thomas - Guysuco pest-control worker: `I am not pleased with the representation we are getting from the union. I think the leaders shouldn't have political contacts. Last year the union helped the workers keep the API, but this year it looks like Guysuco will get its way. The union is not doing anything about it and the workers will get a raw deal. I think last year was just to get us to stay quiet. The union needs better representation.'