Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 19, 2021 Letters
Dear Editor,
When one applies for a job, whether it’s in public or private sector, they are given an opportunity to join a trade union. In Guyana, we have many trade unions, but let us look at two major ones: the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), which represents the public sector; and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), which represents teachers. These two unions ought to represent the best interest of their members at all forums, whether at negotiations or matters of national interest, but the question is whether they’ve been doing so.
It must be pointed out that workers’ unions are bound and mandated to be politically, racially, and religiously neutral, in order to represent the best interest of their members, but are these unions politically neutral or acting politically neutral? It must also be pointed out that these unions only speak and put out public statements when such benefit a certain political party. This was evident from past public statements on behalf of these unions by the union presidents or executives, for example, Corretta McDonald, an APNU+AFC MP.
In the past, we have seen the GPSU, a union that is supposed to be a politically neutral organisation, but which has publicly aligned itself with APNU+AFC. For example, the recent court proceedings that involved a budget dispute, which sought to eliminate the Finance Minister from altering and making changes to the independent budgets submissions/proposals for the independent commissions. This was initially submitted by independent commission, and a court proceeding was publicly taken by APNU+AFC members, which immediately make this matter a political case. However, the GPSU still joined in this case. This act immediately strips the union of its political neutrality. Additionally, the GPSU has failed in the past year to negotiate for anything “proper” whether it be better working conditions, better uniform allowance, salary increase etc. which would benefit its workers, given the Covid-19 pandemic.
Editor, let us broaden the scale to the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU). It must not be forgotten that a trade union is obligated to represent its members to the best of its ability. Since the pandemic began back in March 2020, this union has done nothing that would have directly benefitted teachers. Did the union negotiate for any form of salary increase or bonus for teachers that had to come out during the pandemic and prepare students to sit the national and international exams? Did the union ignite any collaborative efforts to distribute relief hampers to teachers like many other independent organisations did? NO!
But let’s move away to what the union is obligated to do and have, because if we continue to ask what the union has done for teachers over the past years, the list would go on and on and on. The union is also obligated and mandated, like other unions, to be politically, racially and religiously neutral. But this union is one of the unions that has an APNU+AFC Member of Parliament sitting as its executive member, you may recall earlier in this letter it was mentioned that unions are to be politically neutral. Yet there is a politically affiliated member sitting as GTU’s executive member. This is a position that enables one to speak on behalf of the union. This is done so blatantly and publicly, a blatant “knockout punch to teachers that are supposed to be represented fairly.
Editor, many members of both of these unions have been heckling, inquiring and considering leaving these unions due to their lack of political neutrality, as evidenced by information provided in this letter and, also, other evidence available publicly. These members are afraid of being victimised by pro unionist colleagues and also not wanting to be singled out for leaving the union. To prevent victimisation, a suggestion that is endorsed by many top neutral activists is for the Ministry of Public Service and Ministry of Education to suspend these two unions “checkoff” which will lead to these two unions going to court for the reinstatement of the “checkoff.” Let us look back at a precedent that was created when the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Mr. N.K Gopaul, suspended the union “checkoff” of the GPSU. The GPSU then had to go to court. Upon judgment of the case, it was ruled that the GPSU had to get new deduction orders for deductions to be made in favour of the GPSU from workers.
Now, if this is to happen, these politically affiliated unions will then have to do a general recruitment of members back to the union, as such previous members of these unions will be free to join, but those who wish not to join can decline to join. This will certainly bring a calm solution to this ongoing conflict of members wanting to leave the union.
Yours truly,
Randy Mangru
Listen to the man that is throwing Guyanese bright future away
Mar 19, 2024
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