The GAWU was extremely displeased to see two articles titled “Workers must liberate themselves from their unions” and “Labour’s lost” which appeared in the May 01 Kaieteur News and the May 02 Guyana Times respectively. Both authors who hide behind anonymity under the guises of “Peeping Tom” and “Eyewitness” have most distastefully chosen to be critical of workers organisations at a time when the workers of Guyana are celebrating Labour Week. While we accept and uphold a person’s right to an opinion, we, at the same time, cannot stand idly by and allow such ill-founded innuendos to be left hanging.
The Peeping Tom’s column begins by laying blame at the Unions doorstep for the closure of estates. Conveniently, or otherwise, the columnist may have forgotten that while the sugar unions were in the forefront of the struggles to keep the doors of the estates open, there were several other organisations which also expressed their support and solidarity with workers and some sought to actively participate in the fight. Interestingly, only the unions are castigated. Nevertheless, we are proud of the battle that we waged on several fronts. It is our sincere view that our sustained struggle served, at least for now, to shift the Government’s position from closure to divestment, which in effect will keep the estates open albeit under different arrangements.
The Peeping Tom goes on say that workers, though rightfully deserving, will not benefit from the windfall revenues of the State. Again, this isolated statement cannot be disconnected from the reality of the situation. We operate in the confines of the Washington Consensus imposed neo-liberal economic system which by its very nature does not have the interests of workers at heart, no matter how deserving the situation may be. This by no means is a situation unique to Guyana. Every year, on the eve of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the charity group – OXFAM – draws to attention the frightening inequity in the world. While certainly unions will point to the windfall, it is only in a system where the workers interests are truly represented will such pleas fall on considerate ears.
The Peeping Tom urges workers to stand alone and un-united. This would probably be the most retrogressive step workers can ever take. As our country, in a few months’ time, will celebrate the centennial anniversary of Trade Unionism in our country, it represents a slap of disrespect to our past leaders such as Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, among others, who encouraged workers to organize under the banner of a union. They, in their own wisdom, recognized the timely axiom of “United we stand, divided we fall”. In the years of unionism, workers have moved from working 12-hours days for below pittance level wages, miserable working conditions, harassment from the employer class, to a time now where they have certain fundamental freedoms and protections which serve to make their lives better. We do not believe this is, by any means, the end of the road. There is much yet to be done and workers’ struggles are continuing to realize all their aspirations which we would wish, would come at the snap of a finger. The Peeping Tom’s call can only serve the interest of those who wish to crush the workers’ rights and, maybe unintentionally, serve the workers oppressors in the name of profits and super-profits.
Continuing in a despotic manner, the Eyewitness columnist is dismayed that sugar workers are not rioting. But while indeed they have not been riots, as he/she may wish, the workers have not been lambs either. They have been out on the streets, with regularity, calling to attention their plight and difficulties. Just as recent as Labour Day, the workers marched proudly holding prominently placards expressing their concerns with matters of concerns. Their sustained struggle has not been in vain as we saw not too long ago they got under the Minister of Agriculture’s thin skin when he recently disavowed GuySuCo, urging the workers to picket his colleague Minister Winston Jordan. The sugar workers recognise that their struggle must be within lawful confines. Riotous behaviour, as some may wish for their own ends, does not hold the answer to their problems. Certainly, it will diminish the goodwill they have accrued and are accruing.
The Eyewitness is also seemingly upset by the Union’s approach to represent the workers issues through the media. While he/she may be dismayed, we hold that every possible avenue should be used to highlight and bring attention to the workers matters, the media, of course, being an integral element. While the Eyewitness, ironically tapping away at computer keyboards, he/she also cannot be ignorant of the several pressing matters of importance which have not attracted riots in reactions. Are those groups also failures? In our view, they certainly are not but as Cheddi Jagan has thought us, it is through our consistent and united work and persistent struggle that we will win out.
We nevertheless urge the Peeping Tom and the Eyewitness, who we want to believe have workers interest at heart, to live up to their respective aliases and assist in making workers organisations stronger and not seek to tear them down. At the end of it all, the workers, whom, from all appearances, they want to have a better life, will be the gravest victims.
