Dear Editor,
I write on behalf of myself and colleagues employed by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) in the rum delivery section. We are represented by the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), but we are disappointed by our union’s lack of efforts in representing us.
We heard GAWU and GLU were negotiating with the company on behalf of the employees they represent, but our union, while being present at the meetings, was not addressing our concerns.
We heard, too, that it was the GAWU leader who spoke on behalf of us, and whatever we may receive will be due to that Union’s efforts.
As a member of the CCWU for many years, I, like my colleagues, am very disappointed that our union is not adequately representing us. We cannot remember the last time we saw our union leaders, and we see the other unions meeting their members all the time.
We feel we are ignored by CCWU, and the union has become uncaring about its members. This is not the union we joined, but CCWU has gone down over the last years, and its membership is suffering.
We heard that CCWU President Mr Clarke hired some new fancy consultant, but even that is not making a difference. Worse yet, someone told us that, years ago, the consultant was a big-time manager who used to punish workers. How really does the CCWU expect him to represent workers’ matters?
Editor, we plead with you to publish this letter, and hope that it can open CCWU’s eyes and ears, which have been shut for far too long while we continue to suffer.
Yours truly,
Concerned worker
