Says President Bharrat Jagdeo in his May Day message
I join in extending greetings to the labour movement and especially to the workers of Guyana who are today joining with their unions in observing Workers’ Day. This is a time for sober reflection on the many gains that the working class has achieved over the years and also an opportunity to commit to facing future challenges with the same resoluteness which has characterized the struggle for emancipation, social justice and improved living and working conditions.
The workers have an ally in my administration. My government continues to place priority on policies that will improve the lot of workers, policies that go beyond issues of wages and salaries and extends to the totality of workers’ lives. In this regard, workers can be pleased by the progress that has been made in education, health care and other social services. They must also be encouraged by the sustained efforts to create an enabling environment through investments in infrastructure and through the introduction of fiscal and other policies that allow for job creation and protection of incomes. All of these enhance the quality of life for workers and secure for their children a better tomorrow.
My government remains firmly committed to creating a favourable environment for workers and their unions. The passage of legislation which protects and furthers the rights of workers is on our statutes. The workers themselves and their unions also have a responsibility to contribute to this climate of industrial cohesion by responsible and constructive action. They must be vigilant against emotionalism and sensationalism which can cloud judgment and lead to self- defeating strategies.
The labour movement of Guyana has a prized place in our country’s history. It should now commit to securing its relevance in building a more prosperous and united Guyana. On this May Day, I urge workers and their unions to opt for dialogue and collaboration in place of verbal bashing and confrontation. I urge responsible activism on the part of the labour movement as we seek to capitalize on the gains which workers have secured over the years.
This is best done under a united labour movement. Unfortunately, each year, I find myself bemoaning the divisions within the movement. It is time for workers to demand that their unions make a more concerted effort to unite and democratize the labour movement. While workers should have no fear about my government encroaching on the independence of their unions or undermining their rights and the gains they have secured, the absence of unity within the labour movement does injustice to the heroic struggles of the working class over the years.
The workers deserve better and this May Day is an opportune time for the labour movement to take stock of its leadership and strategies and to commit to more responsible representation that would secure a better future and forge greater unity and cohesion.
Long live the workers of Guyana!