Labour's 'unity' mood for May Day
Analysis by Rickey Singh
AT A time of continuing divisions and conflicts within and among trade unions of the region's labour movement in a number of Caribbean Community states, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is commendably moving to heal wounds and promote unity among its affiliates and workers in general. Tomorrow's May Day activities will clearly reflect this new positive mood with the GTUC's central theme of `Uniting the Nation for the Future Generation'. It is a theme that, hopefully, could inspire positive thinking also among the major political players and civic organisations in Guyana where, for painfully far too long, disunity has been and remains the norm. A most significant feature of this year's May Day celebrations - in contrast to last year's division that resulted in separate rallies - is, of course, the participation of the country's single largest trade union, Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), in both the planned rally and march. Surprisingly, however, reports have been circulating of a likely boycott of the May Day rally, but not the march, by two unions in relation to allegations of membership `poaching'. Strenuous efforts were being made to avoid such a development. Along with its old ally, National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), GAWU had suspended its affiliation with the GTUC citing, among other contentious issues, lack of democracy and accountability. The participation of GAWU and NAACIE in tomorrow's events - warmly welcomed by both the General Secretary of the GTUC, Lincoln Lewis, and President of GAWU, Komal Chand - is viewed as an important prelude to the reunification of these unions as affiliates of the umbrella body of the local labour movement. The basis for that reunification will be more vigorously pursued following May Day activities with the intention of arriving at an agreement that is mutually satisfactory. The intention is that such an agreement will reflect, among other issues, commitment to internal democracy and public accountability. General Secretary Lewis, in a brief telephone interview, underscored how critical it is for the labour movement and the nation as a whole that "a new mood for national unity be generated". The Deputy General Secretary and Director of Industrial Relations of the powerful Barbados Workers Union (BWU), Robert Morris, who was a lead participant in the recent two-day `Social Contract Forum' in Georgetown, has described Lewis as "a bright spark" in the local labour movement. Social Compact The Forum was organised by the GTUC in collaboration with the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) and the Caribbean Office of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The primary aim was to lay the foundation for a tripartite Social Compact involving organised labour, government and the private sector. The Private Sector Commission was represented by its chairman, Mr George Jardim. A draft Statement of Intent, resulting from the deliberations and recommendations of the Forum, which endorsed the principles of tripartism and social partnerships, is currently being considered by the GTUC, Government and Private Sector Commission. The BWU's Morris, who also works closely with the Barbados-based Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL), of which the Guyana-born trade union official George DePeana, is currently General Secretary, said that "unity within the ranks of the GTUC is vital for the realisation of the proposed agreement for promotion of the concept of tripartism". Morris feels that "friends of the GTUC would be happy with the impending return to the fold of GAWU and NAACIE". So, of course, would be those affiliates of the GTUC, among them the Guyana Labour Union and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union, that are actively working to promote such a reconciliation.
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