People’s Progressive Party
May 01, 2021 , Source - https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...s-progressive-party/
Kaieteur News – Traditionally, Labour Day, or May Day as it’s referred to, allows for our nation’s workers to rally in solidarity to celebrate their invaluable contributions to national development and to use the occasion to voice challenges that are confronting them, as well as rally collectively to address solutions to the same. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, those customary marches and rallies will be absent this year. This is yet another example of the impact, which the pandemic continues to have on lives all across the world. However, through technology, mechanisms will allow leaders of Trade Unions to address workers on related issues and for their voices to be heard. Our workers are our country’s most valuable asset and as another Labour Day is upon us, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend best wishes to all of them throughout our dear land. Our Party is cognizant of how they have been impacted by the pandemic and continues to implement measures, including the COVID-cash grant, to mitigate these impacts. Having returned to government, nine months ago, the PPP/C Government continues to work assiduously to ensure that our workers are a priority and that their lives and conditions continue to be improved. This recognition is evident by the emphasis and value placed on their welfare by the immediate re-establishment of the Ministry of Labour upon taking office in August 2020. The PPP firmly believes that mechanisms to engage and represent our workers must not be diluted and that they must be able to access related services in a structured and holistic manner as is necessary through a Ministry. While our Party is aware that there is more to be done, it continues to advance a multifaceted approach to ensure the advancement of our workers. Very early within this current tenure of government, burdensome taxes and fees were removed and the education cash grant was restored. To date, thousands of jobs have been created and restored to allow our workers a dignified opportunity to provide for their families.
Further, access to thousands of scholarships to aid in capacity building and the implementation of various programmes and policies to improve the social and physical infrastructure, are just part of the PPP/C Government’s thrust to better the lives of all of our workers. Our workers’ contributions have been the bedrock of the struggles for betterment for all and the development of our nation could not have been realised without them. The PPP salutes our workers, their resoluteness and innovativeness in advancing our country and encourages them to remain safe during the pandemic. Best wishes to them on their day.
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People’s National Congress
May 01, 2021 , Source - https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...s-national-congress/
Kaieteur News – The People’s National Congress extends warmest greetings to workers throughout the country who continue to contribute to national development as we commemorate Labour Day 2021.
The Trade Union movement this year will commemorate the centenary of the enactment of the Trades Union Ordinance on 18th June 1921 in British Guiana. A century is a long time in our history. Guyana applauds the historic achievements of the trades union movement to improve the working and living conditions of workers over the years.
The Labour Movement, despite the progress it has made, however, will be celebrating Labour Day at a time of increasing economic uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the nine months of the PPP administration, hundreds have lost their jobs and incomes. In addition to the growing unemployment and under-employment, severe cuts to social services, and the rising cost of living have worsened conditions for many ordinary citizens.
The PNC is disappointed with the inhumane treatment meted to workers as manifested in the dismissal of hundreds of public servants and the administration’s refusal to meet with public sector workers’ unions to negotiate wages and salaries for workers.
The PPP administration has failed to prevent further dismissals and to provide employment for youths.
The PNC takes this opportunity on Labour Day to recognise the efforts of the working people who have toiled in the offices, fields, factories and the services sectors to advance national development.
The PNC urges everyone, especially our workers, to recommit to the development of our great nation on the basis of equality, rights and justice.
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The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana
May 01, 2021 , Source - https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...de-unions-of-guyana/
Kaieteur News – The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and its affiliates – the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) – extends greetings and recognises the contributions and efforts of the Guyanese working-class and all workers of the world on this Labour Day 2021.
This year’s Labour Day finds the world gripped by the novel Coronavirus pandemic. It has disrupted our lives and made the previously mundane seem strange. As in previous times of adversity, mankind has demonstrated its will and intellect to surmount challenges. Concerted worldwide efforts have brought vaccines which can majorly dent the impact of the pandemic. Here in Guyana, we recognise the efforts of the Government to inoculate the adult population. We note when compared to several nations, we have made tremendous progress and this is a reassuring development. Though heartened by such developments, we see too the irresponsibility demonstrated by some of our countrymen and women. Such attitudes are not helpful in our desire to attain herd immunity. And on this Labour Day we encourage all Guyanese to receive their vaccines as we hold that we all have a responsibility to ensure that we can emerge from the pandemic in the shortest possible time.
As a day set aside to recognise the role of the working-class, the FITUG remains dismayed by the disrespectful attitude of some to our nation’s workers. We have heard too many times of instances of employers who seek to disregard our workers’ rights and conditions. Such actions are simply abominable and cannot be tolerated. The Federation has recognised the efforts of the Ministry of Labour to bolster to ranks as it seeks to uphold workers’ rights. This is a positive development and one that we are encouraged by. At the same time, we must express our disappointment that Labour Day 2021 is observed but the national minimum wage remains the same despite an agreement for an improvement. On this Labour Day, we sound our call for the national minimum wage to be increased to $60,000 monthly.
The working-class is guided by the principles of solidarity and fraternity and where workers irrespective of background strive for unity of purpose. Such attitudes we hold should be transcended to national life as well. In as much as we hold hope for such realities, we are disturbed by the divisive sentiments expressed by certain quarters. Most recently, we have seen the utterances of Opposition MP, Amanda Walton-Desir. As a leader, we hold Ms. Walton-Desir to a higher standard and she ought to know and do better. Her remarks have no place in our modern society and are roundly condemning her and others engaged in such disturbing acts.
This Labour Day also finds the workers breathing somewhat easier as many of the burdens placed on their backs have been lessened. We welcome the reversal of anti-worker policies which heightened the cost-of-living over the last few years. We hail too the reinstitution of the several pro-people policies by the new Administration. Taken together they will go a long way to addressing the plight of our workers. We also recognise statements of His Excellency, President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to close the rift between the have and have-nots. Given our anticipated economic expansion such statements are heartening and we look forward to further expansion of pro-poor policies in the coming years.
Indeed, Labour Day 2021 greets us with a mixture of hope and anxiety. We are certain as in the past that we will surmount our obstacles and emerge stronger and more committed. Certainly, there is a lot more to accomplish and more victories are within reach. On this Labour Day, the FITUG reiterates its commitment to enhancing the working-class and deepening the involvement of workers in decision making.
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Mr. Patrick M. Yarde, President/CEO of Guyana Public Service Union
May 01, 2021 , Source - https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...ublic-service-union/
Kaieteur News – May 1st would be the second Workers’ Day that workers would be severely restricted to celebrating this auspicious occasion that they look forward to every year and have the legitimate expectation of being with the leadership of their unions to be acquainted with pursuits in their interest, the difficulty being experienced, the progress being made, if any, and what is necessary collectively to be done to achieve the desired outcomes.
On this occasion, in 2021 there is nothing positive to note, the period May 2020 to May 2021 has been brutal for workers and more so for the elderly, pensioners and ruthless demanding and life threatening situations for front-line workers, due mainly to Covid-19. The origin of this pandemic is still in doubt, however, there is no doubt about how widespread, contagious, devastating and deadly it has been and continues to be even though there have been several vaccines developed and emergency approval for usage and the fact that several hundred million persons throughout the world have been inoculated.
The spread of the virus continues to escalate and in several countries, India, Brazil and Europe are scariest. Here in Guyana infections are on the rise and also the death rate.
It is clear to the Guyana Public Service Union that the Government’s unenlightened approach to mitigate the impact of this deadly virus is contributing to the escalation of infections and increase death rate from the virus. The importation and inoculation of vaccines are not enough.
This has been done throughout the world, even by other countries that provided Guyana with vaccines, the virus is still spreading and killing their citizens, but the naïve approach is applied here in Guyana in conflict with recent advice from PAHO.
Worst yet is the Government’s political conduct and ruthless stance in dealing with frontline workers particularly frontline Health Care Workers. Their entire approach is uncaring and somewhat heartless in this high risk and deadly environment. The cost of living is skyrocketing and prices for necessary household commodities have escalated. The Administration refuses to respect workers’ right and engage in collective bargaining; refusing to pay risk allowance to frontline workers that was agreed to in principle. They are pressuring and putting workers at risk; there is also political discrimination against workers and causing increased hardship and challenges to survive. They are taking action that would instigate conflict between workers; they are obviously in collusion with the private sector to deny workers what is merited, deserving and outstanding.
Guyana is now an oil producing state but clearly there is a political focus to utilise the revenue from that source in a partisan political manner and all decent and law abiding citizen must unite and guard against this.
This year we have also been faced with a test, the challenge to protect decency against vulgarity. This is the situation at the Linden Hospital Complex; we have concluded that the political Administration deliberately put one of their operatives to abuse our members to intimidate and to demoralise them. This is evident since notwithstanding the public criticism and the condemnation and call for the removal of this offensive upstart.
The political hierarchy is clearly supporting the conduct of this culprit and there is no display of decency at any level of the Government to acknowledge the inappropriateness of what was done.
Our Sisters taking protest action in Linden in defence of their image and decency from the vulgarity of Rudolph Small, are being victimised by this regime, their meager salaries were reduced unlawfully to pressure and punish them to submit to Small’s vulgar conduct. This is the humiliation that they are subjected to. The Union will be opening a bank account specifically to deposit funds to economically assist those members financially that would be affected by the regime’s gruesome actions and would be inviting all members and well-wishers, who voluntarily would like to contribute, to do so.
Another area that requires attention is the environment and climate change, there is no doubt that 2021 would present serious challenges which maybe devastating and we must start preparing to respond to such challenges.
Brothers and Sisters, in addition to all the agony and dangers facing us, the apparent menace that is lurking in our path to upliftment is the administration’ reluctance to address deserving and overdue increases in salaries and allowances commencing at the base with a living wage. No full time worker in the public service should be living in poverty. This is the case in Guyana which is deliberately being done by the Administration. Workers continue to be suffocated and discriminated against.
This ill treatment of workers seems to be endless. Government after government continues to abuse workers’ rights. In 2015 the promise was made to have inclusiveness and the restoration of collective bargaining by the APNU+AFC Administration. This promise was not honoured and impositions continued ruthlessly. In 2020 the PPP/C campaign promised to pay substantial increases to the public sector workers, so far that has gone with the wind and the slogan ‘President for all the people’ has no meaning.
Let me repeat – a major contribution to the working class neglect is the absence of inconclusiveness, the obstruction to workers’ participation in management and the disregard of honouring of obligation for the International Labour Organisation Conventions ratified by the Parliament of Guyana and that are in force.
In eliminating the obstacles in our way, we must mobilise now to confront the existing injustices in order to etch out a future that is built on fairness, justice and human rights. As a public sector union, we recognize and are confident that we are integral to the foundation of a just and democratic society and that our fight is a fight for all. We must enhance our relationship, our militancy and solidarity to dislodge the political and executive assaults. We must obtain positive results on our outstanding grievances.
We cannot be fragmented. We must unite! For in unity there is strength.
The only hope for the workers in Guyana is genuine working class unity.
Finally, and most important, workers are urged to protect themselves and be safe at all times.
On behalf of the Executive Council I extend best wishes to all workers for a Happy May Day 2021.