Introduction
Comrade Chairman, on behalf of the FITUG, I extend fraternal greetings to all workers as we celebrate this important day on the working-class calendar. It is a day to demonstrate our solidarity and unity; a day that reminds us that our aspirations for a better and just society are still to be realised.
Comrades, this day has evolved from a rich, inspiring chapter of the international working-class and rooted in the struggle of 1886 when some 80,000 workers in Chicago, USA demanded an eight (8) hour working day. Based on those struggles workers representatives adopted a resolution at a meeting in 1887 for May 1st to be observed as International Workers Day. In Guyana, our celebrations began in 1930 under the leadership of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and his British Guiana Labour Union and in 1958 May 1st was approved as a National Holiday.
Today marks the 60th year since Labour Day became a national holiday. Significantly, our celebrations are taking place in an atmosphere of unity of our two (2) major trade union bodies. We of FITUG welcome this development as we see that unity is essential in order to effectively safeguard our gains, expand our achievements and realize our working-class dreams.
Local Situation
As bodies representing the country’s workers, we cannot disregard the persistent difficulties which, for very many of us, have affected the quality of our life. Indeed, several challenges have surfaced over the recent years. We have observed that the prices of several staple have risen; there are increased rates and taxes; there is a threat of higher electricity costs on account of higher oil prices, and now there are increased water rates hanging over our heads. We can neither disregard the all-pervasive VAT, as it now affects a wider range of products and even essential medical services. In the face of these burdens it is painful to know that our pensioners are given for 2018 only got an increase of just over one dollar per day.
As workers, a vexing issue to us is unemployment. The Labour Force Survey, just recently made public, identified that less than half of our working-age population is employed. It says also that youth unemployment is unacceptably high. It says, alarmingly, that 53 per cent of our people are either impoverished or are vulnerable to impoverishment. These findings cannot be comforting to us recognizing the deteriorating conditions we now face. An expression of our slide downwards is manifested in the rising criminality which has left many Guyanese living in fear. Once again, we call on the appropriate authorities to allay people’s fears and develop strategies to effectively contain this malady in our midst.
At this time we are hearing a lot about the future that beckons when we become an oil-producing nation. This could prove to be a blessing, or, possibly, a curse. The experiences in several countries have shown this. However, we contend that oil should not displace our historical economic sectors but rather it should consolidate our economic foundation for the years and generations of Guyanese ahead. On this matter, we cannot ignore the various questions regarding the oil deal and what it means to our patrimony and, accordingly, support the calls for the agreement to be re-negotiated.
We emphasize that in our developing state, with poverty still uncomfortably high, with our expanding social needs, and with an eye on the future, our natural wealth has a significant role in our present and future all-round development. We urge then that those charged with the Management of our resources always bear this in mind.
Sugar industry
Our meeting today can also not disregard the plight that has befallen thousands of our fellow workers in the sugar industry. Theirs would be yet another sad chapter in our country’s history. Over recent months, some 7,000 sugar workers have been sent home without any plan to address their welfare. Then to add pepper to the deep wound and contrary to our law, some workers received only half of their severance payments and some others at Wales none. For us this is one of the most callous of decisions ever made in living memory. Today, many of the workers who have been placed on the breadline, remain right there unable to find steady jobs and in some cases any job at all. The promises of saving sugar heard boisterously by persons now in Government have proven to be hollow and empty.
The FITUG recognized despite the daunting challenges, that the workers did not give up hope. They demonstrated an indomitable will to stand up and to call attention to their plight as they sought to overcome and win out in this struggle. Receiving wide solidarity and sympathy, their spirited stance prompted, no doubt, the Administration to now divest the estates, which arguably is better than closure but not necessarily the best solution. This experience and the workers’ struggles have much to offer to the Guyanese working-class. This experience begs the question: Is this what the future has in store for us?
Comrade workers, at this time there is apparent confusion surrounding the sugar industry. There is the risk that this lack of clarity could very well threaten efforts to improve the viability of the remaining GuySuCo estates for which the recently announced $30B financing is intended. We repeat there is an urgent need for a workable plan involving the workers and their organizations which will strengthen any and all efforts to attain the desired ends and goals.
International Situation
Comrades, Labour Day is, as we know, a day when we raise high the banner of solidarity of the international working-class. We are part of this world movement. As generations of workers before us have done in our country, the working-class of the world have also written, selflessly, glorious and inspiring chapters of struggles that impacted positively on our lives and influenced profound socio-economic change in their respective societies.
In our day, we are witnessing new challenges levelled at those who historically thrived on wars, conflicts, oppression and exploitation. These ruling forces and their agencies and their puppets, in spite of their use of new methods and intrigues against the peoples, are unable to suppress their reinvigorated struggles erupting on all continents or to still the peoples voices that demand an end to injustice, and are calling for World Peace, deepening of democracy, end to poverty, respect for countries sovereignty and consistent and focused efforts to address climate change which is reaching a critical level.
We of FITUG express, in the strongest terms, our sincerest solidarity to all peoples, especially the working-class who are engaged, in one way or another, in this fight today for these causes. We hasten to add that while we support these struggles, we must also do our share to bring about an order that places people before profits and a world order based on peace, humane relations, and steady progress.
Conclusion
Comrades, on this May Day 2018, as workers let us recognize that we need to be more assertive in demanding our rights and insist that we be involved in the decision-making processes that impact our lives. We must speak up and speak out for democracy and justice.
Today’s conditions do not call for complacency but for greater activism. The spirit of Chicago, 1886, as well as our own rich legacy should serve to inspire us today. Let us remember these insightful words to the world’s workers: “Workers, Unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains; you have a world to win”.
May Day greetings to all working-people indeed, all citizens of Guyana!
Long live Proletarian Internationalism!
Long live Labour Day 2018!
