By Svetlana Marshall

IT IS time that women’s ability to lead be recognized. So said Karen Vansluytman, a member of the Guyana Trades Union Congress’s (GTUC) Women’s Advisory Committee, as she addressed the plethora of issues affecting women.Vansluytman, like some others, delivered a rousing speech before hundreds of working class Guyanese during the Labour Day Rally at the National Park on Sunday.

Although unions are powered by women, Vansluytman said, they ever so often are recognised only when there is a need to execute insignificant activities.

“They only recognise us…when they want to mobilise, and to organize, and to plan a social and a Bar-B-Q and a take-away lunch. That is when they recognise us,” she told the cheering crowd.

Vansluytman said that when the time comes for women to take up real leadership roles, they are often discredited and deemed ungrateful.

“They say we are ungrateful and we want to take away their positions; and they just want a little more time because they have institutional memory…,” the trade unionist posited while emphasising that women have institutional memory as well.

Without fear of any reprisal from members of the union which she represents, Vansluytman lashed out at those trade unionists who speak of democracy and the rights of workers, but fail miserably in their attempt to lead by example.

“They forget that they have overtime that needs to be paid…that some (workers) have to be paid for the leave that they earned, and that (workers) should be given their days off…,” she declared.

She said that trade unionists ever so often call on the Government to respect the rights of workers, but when members of the unions to which they work highlight the issues affecting them, they are fined or banished from their unions.

Alluding to this year’s theme, “Unity of the Working Class”, Vansluytman questioned whether some trade union leaders believe it is the sole responsibility of workers to achieve this unity. Despite their perception, she charged, they should take up the mantle and collaborate with other stakeholders to tackle the many social ills affecting women workers.

“We want them to know that is time for them to change, especially some of those veteran trade unionists who still seem to think that the only way of resolving issues is to be antagonistic and confrontational,” she declared while underscoring the need to unite.

STOP THE IMMATURE BEHAVIOUR
“The same issues that will affect the members of the Guyana Trades Union Congress will be the same issues that will affect the members of FITUG. The same problems that will affect the GPSU women workers will be the same that affect GAWU women workers; so it is therefore necessary for some of them to put away their immature and selfish behaviour,” Vansluytman said.

She added that the interest of the working class must be put first and foremost, and hastened to address the issues surrounding the Public Service Commission (PSC).

“Last year, I spoke about those public servants who are being denied promotion by the Public Service Commission, the majority being women workers. This situation remains the same, because there are elements on the Public Service Commission who feel that the public servants belong to them, so they can hire and fire and promote…. We are saying that must be changed now!” she demanded.

She said there are also commissioners on the PSC who sit in a position of conflict of interest, “because they are working among public servants over whom they have to adjudicate to appoint or promote…we are saying that should not happen!” she charged.

The trade unionist also highlighted other issues affecting working women. She said that while the Social Protection Ministry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) ought to be applauded for their efforts in tackling domestic and intimate-partner violence, these issues have risen to an alarming rate.

“Almost on a daily basis we read of some woman being killed. There is another phenomenon that is raising its ugly head — where sons, who have chosen to destroy their lives by allowing substance abuse to take control of them, are now killing their mothers…. Please! They need help; we need help! This is a situation that must be changed now!” Vansluytman appealed.

She suggested that a national consultation be held to address these issues in a holistic manner.