– GTUC President tells Trade Union Leaders

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Coretta McDonald, has called on the Trade Union leaders in Guyana to recognise that they must foster the development of all of the workers they represent, instead of working for their own self-interest.

McDonald told a gathering of labour workers and leaders, at the National Park, on Wednesday, that there are some union leaders who are not au fait with the roles that they should play, and used the opportunity to remind the leaders of their responsibilities.

“It cannot be business as usual… we have to recognise that our workers’ welfare must be first and foremost and it therefore means that training, involvement, accountability, education and commitment must be forward and priority on our list if we want to sing the song for social justice,” she stressed.

According to the GTUC President, trade union leaders cannot continue to “throw blame” when they too are equally responsible for the conditions in the working climate.

“Too many times we allow personal gains and personality clashes to cloud our vision,” McDonald posited and stressed that if the leaders cannot be held accountable, then they should step aside.

“As a trade union movement, we are ready and willing to bring about change,” she said too, while noting that the trade union is ready to engage with all stakeholders- at all times- to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of Guyanese workers.

During her remarks, she indicated that the trade union is ready to create avenues to educate its members and ensure that they can garner skills necessary to be employed in the job market, especially in the oil and gas sector. She also indicated that importance must be given to ensuring that the local workforce is inclusive of and represents women and young people.

The GTUC President also called for greater partnership between the lawmakers and the trade unions, and reminded these lawmakers that trade unions are important in every sphere in the development of this country.

“Our political leaders must be reminded that our labour force is no longer ignorant or uneducated about our rights and for that we cannot be easily suppressed,” she said pointedly.

Moreover, she highlighted that the unions have realised that gone are the days of being “confrontational,” noting that there is cognisance of other ways and means of resolving issues.

“At the trade union movement we must have the courage and the wisdom to tackle our problems and to arrive when there are situations with solutions,” she posited.