Major trade unions cancel annual Labour Day March, rally amid public safety concerns

On May 1 every year, members of the various trade union organisations in the country would hold marches through the streets of Georgetown that culminate in rallies in observance of Labour Day, but this year, several major trade union organisations have cancelled the annual Labour Day march and rally amid concerns about public safety following Monday night’s violence across the country.
Among those not participating in the annual parade tomorrow are the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
FITUG – which is the umbrella body for unions such as the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU); the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE); the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) – said it had made the difficult decision to cancel the traditional observance in response to numerous reports from workers nationwide who expressed anxiety about participating.
In a statement on Wednesday, FITUG expressed concerns about the current national atmosphere of tension, fear and instability.
The umbrella body noted that this historic occasion, which has long been a time for unity, reflection, and celebration of the contributions of the working class, is now clouded by a disturbing wave of violence, intimidation, and disorder.
FITUG said while it extended its sympathies to the family and friends of Adrianna Younge, her death must not be used as an excuse for lawlessness.
“We strongly condemn the actions of Opposition-inspired elements who have played a clear role in fuelling this unrest. The calculated spread of misinformation, incitement to violence, and deliberate attempts to destabilise our society are not just irresponsible—they are anti-people in nature. These actions seek to divide our nation, disrupt peace, and derail the progress we have collectively worked so hard to build.
“As a federation, FITUG is evaluating the genuine concerns raised by workers regarding their safety and participation in Labour Day events. Our first duty is always to the well-being of the working class. We take these concerns seriously and are considering all appropriate measures to ensure that our actions remain grounded in responsibility, solidarity, and respect for our members,” FITUG stated.
Meanwhile, the GPSU, which represents all the public servants of the country, has indicated that it too will not be hosting its annual May Day parade, in light of concerns by its members.
In a brief telephone interview with Guyana Times, GPSU First Vice President Dawn Gardner emphasised that the Union could not in good conscience encourage participation in a public event under the existing conditions.
“Our members are expressing fear,” Gardner stated, adding that “what we have done as a union is we have taken a conscious decision in light of all that is happening, we will not be taking part in the march and rally tomorrow”.
She also cited the 12:30am to 5am curfew, noting that the Union did not want to encourage large gatherings that may be in violation of the public order.
“You know about the curfew issues by the Minister of Home Affairs, so we don’t want to have to be in a large gathering and we are taking the safety of our workers very seriously,” Gardner explained.
Meanwhile, Coretta McDonald from the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has indicated that its members would still host the annual march.
Efforts to contact the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) have proven futile.