Ashton Chase calls on Guyana’s Labour Movement to unite
– says current division ‘a backward step’

HONORARY Member of the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), Mr. Ashton Chase, S.C., O.E., said division in Guyana’s Trade Union Movement is a backward step, and that “the movement should be united.”

The Senior Counsel made this remark as he delivered the feature address at NAACIE’s 52nd Delegates (2nd Triennial) Conference held at the Umana Yana on Wednesday under the theme: “Reorganising the Union for Greater Unity and Workers’ Strength”.

Putting into perspective the role of unity within the trade union movement, Mr Chase affirmed, “After all, the essence and base of trade unionism is unity; and in Unity there is strength.”

He complimented the President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Mr. Carvil Duncan, whom he said, after internal and unpublicised efforts this year, publicly put out the invitation to the TUC for the two bodies to become united into one.

“FITUG, of which your union is a member, should be congratulated on its effort to secure a united body,” Chase said, adding it should be noted that this approach was not through weakness or fear, as FITUG is numerically a far stronger body.

Chase said he hopes that the efforts of FITUIG bear fruit, and that, in a reasonable time, the two bodies would be united. “It is in the interest of the workers and the movement that this should be accomplished,” he declared.

Albeit, Mr. Chase commented, “The recent surprising objection by the TUC (or its General Secretary) of not accepting a unanimous decision of our divided Parliament to work together with FITUG in the management of Critchlow Labour College was an unfortunate decision.

Giving a background to the development of the 68-year-old movement and the contribution it made to fostering unity in Trade Unionism through the years, Mr. Chase recalled that the union was registered on December 12, 1946, and started as a sugar estate clerical body. In time it enlarged within the sugar industry, extending its membership to supervisors, sugar boilers, headmen, and other administrative staff.

He pointed to the robust move the union had made in reducing the number of trade unions and enhancing the unity of the labour movement, adding that in due course its name was changed to the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

“With this came an extension of its field membership, effectively encompassing entities such as the Guyana Power and Light Inc; BOSAI (Bauxite workers); National Frequency Management Unit and the Caribbean Containers – a classic demonstration of forging unity within the movement,” Chase stated.

He added that it is significant that the conference was being held in the month of May, a significant month for the Labour Movement, the first Labour Day being observed on May 1, 1930, and May Day being observed as a public holiday from 1958.

Thereafter, he noted differences were observed in the movement in earlier years.

BLACKLISTING

“But this May (2014), like those in recent times, has punctuated the division in our Trade Union Movement (with) the GTUC on one side and FITUG on the other side,” he said.

And noting that the commercial communities have made their voices heard on the Opposition’s non-supportive position in Parliament as it relates to passage of the crucial Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, Mr. Chase expressed the view that a united trade union body should also be able to make its views heard thereon, and be respected by all concerned.

Making his view known on this matter, Chase stated emphatically that, “blacklisting of our country is most damaging. The whole country and its inhabitants will feel the adverse effects. It is going to be devastating to the country.”

Mr. Chase cautioned that in such gigantic swirl, party political differences should have no place. He considered it a matter of profound regret that the Labour Movement is not united and working together to avert ‘this torrent’ that will befall the country – not for a short period, but for a long time.

Meanwhile, turning his attention to sugar, the base on which NAACIE started, Mr. Chase lamented that, from being for years the leading contributor to Guyana’s economy, then the second most important contributor, sugar has now ceased to be a contributor.

“Instead, it is heavily reliant on the state’s support for its very existence and full-time operation,” he said.

Mr Chase noted that the huge investment that represents the Skeldon factory modernisation appears up to now to be a further and serious loss to the industry and to the country. He told the scores assembled for the conference, “Your union cannot but have a deep and abiding interest in what is taking place in the sugar industry, and to be ready to make a contribution to ensure that its total failure, as envisaged by some, does not come to pass.”

He called for the union to have an overwhelming interest in seeing the sugar industry properly managed, with cost effective and competitive production.

Chase opined that if the present ownership remains, the first step in this direction is the appointment, by the authorities, of a dedicated, experienced and productive management board. If, on the other hand, the ownership is different, then those who assume this responsibility may be relied on to re-direct the industry to its prosperous days.

Chase also called for elimination of water around the sugar cane fields, adding that the comparative scarcity of sugar harvesters (cane cutters) is also an issue that requires urgent attention.

Other issues of concern he identified include:
* The matter of sums due to the industry and its debts

* The modernisation of the industry as a whole, and its involvement in profitable by-products

Joining NAACIE in celebration at the opening of their 52nd Delegates Conference were Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul and representatives of sister trade unions including President of the GTUC, Mr. Norris Whitter; President of the GPSU, Patrick Yarde; President of the CCWU, Sherwood Clarke, and other representatives of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU); National Union of Public Service Employees (NUPSE): Guyana Teachers’ Union – all of whom brought messages on behalf of their Unions.

(By Shirley Thomas)