WORKERS will today march and hold rallies as part of the annual May Day event. This day–a national holiday in many countries–has its genesis in workers losing their lives and suffering injuries during strike action to protest for just working conditions, notably an 8-hour work day, on 4th May, 1886 in Chicago, USA.

As workers participate in activities today, it would be remiss not to acknowledge that they do so in a markedly changed environment. The labour movement is going through a metamorphosis, but it is yet to be seen if this will see resurgence befitting its behemoth legacy, or resignation in accepting the status quo. The latter notwithstanding, it is the former that helps to better understand the movement and what it has come to exemplify in the society, which undeniably are under threat for the welfare of workers, unionised or not. Labour’s history in shaping universal rights, freedoms and conditions of work that are taken for granted ought not to be ignored. Where workers of this country first distinguished themselves as an organised force, in 1905, to stand up to the employer and demand a say at the table to influence their conditions of work, such has set in train a series of actions.
This act by the workers–consistent with the universal right to self-determination, freedom of association, collective bargaining, and involvement in management and decision-making processes that affect one’s wellbeing–has shaped universal declarations, charters, conventions and local laws.

While the right to freedom of association respects the right not to associate, those who choose to associate and work as a collective should be allowed to do so. And where there continues to be expressed concerns by the trade unions that such is under threat, these expressions of concern have to be heeded. Workers, as members of trade unions by constitution, not only have this right enshrined but labour laws that require employers treating with their representatives in good faith, but Governments are expected to set the tone and standard for how citizens will be treated.

Workers who gravitate to Government jobs, outside of doing so based on limited opportunities or preferred career choice, would admit to good benefits and tenure, including a pension which are attractive incentives to remain on the job or to enter the employ. None, paying attention to the trade union movement within recent years, would miss that fingers are being pointed at state institutions, owned in whole or part by the Government, for engaging in unsavoury conduct. Ignoring these anomalies will not only create a disgruntled workforce, but professionalism and performance risk being compromised. It is a mistake to treat workers as mechanical tools to be dictated to, and to deem their input unimportant to workplace safety and development, yet expect good performance from them.

Outside of employers, there have been expressed concerns that some trade union leaders are not representing and protecting the interests of workers. This should not happen, and workers should increase their vigilance and participation in the activities of the trade union.
Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram recently made some similar observations when he said “A labour movement is a critical part of a society but, it must bring new blood, new ideas and help to build courage.” Ram was at the time speaking at the launch of the sixth delegates’ conference of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG). He lambasted the veteran leaders of the unions for extending their tenures for far too long, noting that leaders have bent the rules in their favour that challenges at election time are invariably doom to failure. Although Ram did not identify a particular trade unionist, he did advise them to retire and act in an advisory position and let new people have an opportunity to lead the union. “Leadership makes the movement strong; the structure of the movement needs to change and age limits need to be introduced and new blood nurtured,” the attorney said. The trade union is an important institution in Guyana, and where there existed any doubt about this, the Guyana Constitution confirms it. The trade union movement has a record of achievement, spanning more than a century, with its impact felt in the Caribbean and farther afield. At the same time it is up to the trade union to seek to make its presence felt and secure its role in the 21st century society.