By Shauna Jemmott

LABOUR unions joined forces on Monday to make a united call for the return of a “Ministry of Labour”. They are suggesting that a Department of Labour under the Ministry of Social Protection is not enough to protect the rights of workers.General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Unions Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, made the call during a press conference held jointly by the GTUC, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) at the Critchlow Labour College on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown.

Lewis said that, for the first time since Guyana gained independence, government has excluded a dedicated Ministry of Labour from its ministerial structure, placing the Department of Labour under the Ministry of Social Protection instead.

“Social protection is part of labour; labour is not part of social protection. What we are asking for is that a Ministry of Labour be established. You can’t tell us that we must accept a name — ‘Social Protection’ — which is an element of labour. You turn it upside down,” Lewis said.

The unions have announced that they are in the process of establishing a united movement, and are considering to either have a “superstructure” of officers to manage its affairs, or give the combined outfit a new name.

The unions have also announced that, on May 1, there will be a return of a united march by all unions.

But Norris Witter, Principal Assistant Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, said the unification of the unions goes beyond the Labour Day March.

“What you have seen here today is a reflection of us uniting for a common cause. We can only be united on embracing principles — universal principles. We must be bounded and guided by principles. After Labour Day march and speeches, what next?” he asked.

Witter said the collaboration understands, and will ensure no one from outside of labour “shall drive labour’s agenda; we are going to drive our agenda!”

Earlier, the unions had, through Lewis, declared: “GTUC and FITUG are mindful of, and will zealously guard, the workers’ activities and its duty and responsibility in organizing same. It should be said that the organizing of Labour Week’s activities has been the purview of the Labour Movement from its inception, and it shall remain so.

“We are not going to allow whoever Minister it is, or whoever emperor it is, to distract us! If we’re going to respect laws and principles, leave the trade union (untouched). What we have to do is respect each other’s right; there must be respect for rights,” he added.

Lewis told the media that the GTUC and FITUG met on April 8 and “have taken the decision to embark on collaborating on a number of issues relating to the socio-economic wellbeing of workers; respect for, and improvement in, the Labour laws; and Labour Week activities.”

The decision was also taken for there to be one rally to be held on May 1.

“We shall continue to respect the fundamental right to Freedom of Association (Article 147 – Guyana Constitution), and the principle that there can be unity in diversity, as adumbrated in international declarations, conventions, charters and laws,” Lewis said.

The unions are today expected to meet with the Organizing Committee of the Labour Day Rally to report, and a decision on the way forward is expected after.

To mark Guyana’s 50th anniversary as a politically independent nation, the movement highlighted the contributions it has made to the struggle.

“In this 50th year, the workers will take time out to reflect (on) and remind all Guyanese of their contributions to nation formation and building. We shall evaluate the achievements, successes and erosions of workers’ rights, freedoms and wellbeing under self-government, and re-strategize on a way forward. We are united in conviction that the workers’ blood, sweat and labour must be treated with respect and (be) justly rewarded,” Lewis stated.

“…It was us, who, in 1926, at a conference held in Georgetown by labour leaders, inclusive of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, put in place the strategy and commenced the struggle for the right to self-determination,” Lewis boasted.

Trade Unionism predated the mass-based political movement which took place in 1950 when the late executive presidents Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan, along with Jayne Phillips-Gay and others, founded the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP).