“Unsure about their next meal” – May Day 2009 Address by Gaietri Baron

Part of the GAWU's Women Forum May Day contingent

I bring you warm and fraternal greetings from the GAWU Women’s Forum as we meet to celebrate May Day – a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labour movement.

Today, we join with sixty-six (66) countries around the world that have made this day a national holiday; where workers can join with their unions to highlight their problems and celebrate their achievements.

As we meet to celebrate, we need to be mindful of the role played by Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and others in the formation of the Trade Union Movement in Guyana and the tremendous sacrifices of the workers to remove the yoke of oppression that had strangled them.

Workers in Guyana have come a far way, and we would like to use this occasion to recognize the contributions made by unions individually and collectively, to promote the welfare and well-being of the working class.

We are mindful, however, of the actions of some trade union leaders who have used their positions to compromise the rights of the workers whom they represent.

Comrades, we are meeting at a time when the world is still reeling from a serious financial crisis that has seen millions of workers around the world losing their jobs, their homes and their social security benefits.

Millions of families are unsure about their next meal, their children’s education and their future. For millions of people around the world, it is not an occasion to celebrate, but to reflect on the reasons why workers and their families are faced with a dismal future.

While others have lost their jobs majority of the workers in Guyana still have a job and their conditions of services have remained intact. We wish to use this occasion to thank all the employers who have retained their work force.

We wish to acknowledge the pronouncement by the President of our country on behalf of the Government of Guyana in assisting the CLICO fiasco. We are pleased to know that persons who had their life savings, will not stand to lose.

We also would like to use this occasion to congratulate the unions that have remained consistent in their fight for better conditions for workers.

We are pleased that women in our country are not treated as second class citizens and that all their human rights are observed; and that we not only accept equity and equality in all spheres of life, but we practice these in all areas of economic, political and social life.

Guyanese women, especially the working women acknowledge the contributions made by the trade union leaders, political and women leaders, who have made it possible for all men and women to have their individual rights not only enshrined by law, but in practice as well.

We wish to salute the memory of the late Janet Jagan, who was a champion of the cause of workers, as well as women rights.

We are grateful for the role she has played in giving leadership and continued solidarity to the working people of Guyana. May her soul rest in peace and may her zeal and commitment to the cause of the ordinary man and woman be followed by many.

We wish to use this forum to call on all those present to denounce violence against women; and at the same time we are calling on all the unions present to join in this campaign.

We encourage you to adopt programmes within your respective unions to educate and sensitize union members about this dastardly action.

Violence not only affects the person who is violated but her whole family as well. It is an inhuman act that is used to subjugate and suppress the individual. We urge everyone present to get involved in the fight against violence. Let us act now!

Comrade Chairman, we would like to use this forum to call on all employers as well; to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their workers, by adopting the prescribed conditions set out in the laws with respect to occupational safety and health.

We still have a lot of work to do to ensure that women who are working as domestics and shops attendants, receive a minimum wage and that their rights are not violated.

As we meet we are mindful of the reality that the Trade Union Movement is no longer a united body and that efforts over time have not materialized in uniting the body.

We call on all present to stay true to the cause of the working class and that we must always be the guardian of their freedoms and their rights.
May the solidarity of all workers grow from strength to strength!

May all the workers of Guyana strive for unity and may the leaders of the union continue to have the wisdom and courage to give continuous leadership to the workers!