Workers must unite to tackle challenges – trade unionists

…GPSU calls out Govt for non-appointment of Chancellor, Chief Justice

As the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) on Monday celebrated Labour Day with its annual march and rally, sentiments echoed for there to be unity among workers in the face of challenges.
The theme for Labour Day 2023 is “Building Strong Progressive Unions to Respond to New Challenges”. Workers and trade unionists joined the activity, dressed in bright red to mark the occasion as they lobbied for better working conditions and rights to be upheld in the annual parade.
Delivering his remarks, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis sought to point out that there are many issues facing workers. For there to be improvement, he noted that resiliency is key.
“There are plenty, plenty of challenges. Each of us is representative of that resilience that the trade union requires to fight …We must have a purpose and that purpose is to support what is always constant as we yearn for improvement. Today, I see us doing more than we are doing. We need to develop the ability to work together. Work together!” Lewis told the gathering.

At the parade activity, President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte said proper compensation for workers and an improved system of operation have been in the current conversation to better working conditions.
In recent times, Lyte shared that engagements were facilitated with Government Ministers to spark more incentives for teachers.
“The last meeting seemed to heading in that direction. We met with three Government Ministers and highlighted some of the issues we have been talking about in the media. If that step is taken, we have to allow the process to at least be unfolded…I would say as a leader, we have to give the [Government] an opportunity to see what they’re coming with on the table as we talk,” Lyte contended.
Meanwhile, President of the General Workers Union (GWU), Norris Witter urged for there to be unity in order to confront challenges which affect the working class. “We must remind ourselves that the labour movement is the only legitimate mass movement and it is in essence, a movement that unites, Therefore, whoever seeks to divide, we must continue to unite.”

Meanwhile, the Guyana Public Service Union in its Labour Day message called for the Government respects the rule of law, be inclusive, desist from its discriminatory posture and involve all stakeholders in decision-making processes.
According to the GPSU, workers must remain unified to stand against challenges.
“The deliberate, blatant, and discriminatory ignoring of the astronomical increase in cost of living; current inadequate earnings of workers, who provided and continue to provide quality public services; and the displeasure displayed by so many workers, particularly those in the health sector and teaching services, who choose migration rather than remain in this hostile, political, race-charged environment, ineptly managed by an ungrateful, uncaring, and insensitive employer”, the Union noted.
In addition, the Union called out the Government over the non-appointment of the Public Service Commission and the Judicial Services Commission.
Only recently, High Court Judge Damone Younge called on the Head of State and the Opposition Leader to act with “all convenient speed” to fill the substantive appointments of the two top judicial posts.
In a Fixed Date Application (FDA) brought against the Attorney General by Opposition parliamentarian Vinceroy Jordan, he asked the High Court to declare that the Head of State’s failure to make permanent appointments to the offices of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice between August 2020 and April 2022 amounted to a gross dereliction and abdication of his duties.
Currently, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Roxane George, SC, are performing the duties of Chancellor and Chief Justice, respectively.
The last confirmed Chief Justice was in the person of Dr Desiree Bernard, who served from 1996 to 2001. She also served as substantive Chancellor and Head of the Judiciary from 2001 to 2005.