GTUC President Lincoln Lewis, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes, FITUG President Carvil Duncan and GAWU’s Deputy Ashin Singh

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is accusing the government of having double standards and paying attention to one section of the work force while the other withers.

GTUC in a release on Friday, October 30 stated that the “double standards in politics, governance and decision making which only ensure disharmony among the citizens and divisions of the working class with regard to treatment under the laws must end.”

The Union body says it has taken note of government’s move to engage the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) soon after a strike, describing it as a “move that clearly signals to workers at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), traditional public sector and elsewhere that similar action may be required of them in order to have their rights upheld.”

“In a month’s time it will mark six years of struggle by BCGI workers to have their grievances attended to consistent with the laws. The parties in government today when in opposition were vocal in condemnation of BCGI mistreatment of workers and the PPP handling of the matter, made this part of their campaign, and promised to ensure justice should they be elected. GTUC is aware that efforts were made by Minister Simona Broomes to visit BCGI and her delegation was hindered from doing so,” the release stated.

The Union is especially troubled given that government sets the tone and shoulders principal responsibility to enforce the laws for all and the seeming lack of concern that in the failure to do so national unity is threatened.

“GTUC reiterates it calls for the right to collective bargaining to be respected for all unionised workers, not some. Equally, as the government moves with promptness to correctly uphold same for GuySuCo workers, they must do so for public servants, bauxite workers, transport and harbor, and others.”