THE Guyana Times on Wednesday October 16, 2013 caption: trade unions clash over contract workers.
I am in the fortunate position to answer Mr. Carvil Duncan. Let me make one observation, and this may be a bit harsh on Mr. Duncan. We the workers who have been strongly advocating change in organised labour on the other hand Mr. Duncan advocates for employers to exploit workers and a host of other worse things he says about workers.

Unless the government takes the contract workers more seriously it will become a “lost cause.” The trade union movement should unite in its determination to ensure that this does not happen. In the short term, we have sought to protect our members, workers at large and their families from the worst effects of contract work.
Where there is no vision people perish, Proverb Chapter. 29 verse 13. The founding father of Guyana and the Caribbean trade unionism Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow with the exceptions was a labour leader, who fought for human rights, freedom and political independence.
Today I salute as we pay due regard to the tremendous contribution which our national hero Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow made in the struggle for the emancipation of the working class of this country as he fought for among other things:-

a) An eight-hour day
b) Abolition of child labour
c) United ownership State pension for the aged
d) A labour movement not only in Guyana but also in the Caribbean
e) Control of the means of production by the masses
f) A truly working-class environment

Some of the challenges of today can, if proper attention is not given to the future, lead to the demise of the organization. Today, collective bargaining is under stress and strain from many quarters and workers have to be educated to understand and appreciate the nature of struggle just to ensure that the gains won are not watered down.
Workers advancement has to grapple with some serious challenges which the trade union movement must gear itself to fight.
This is not time to be silent. Let us come out and speak for ourselves. It is shameful to allow Mr. Duncan to speak for us on contract workers. Let us join the NAACIE General Secretary, Mr. Kenneth Joseph in speaking out against contract work. The time is right now!

SHERWOOD CLARKE, General President
Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union