May 1st and 5th are two holidays in the opening week of the new month and it has occurred to us that in the first instance, May 1 is a holiday that traditionally represents the solidarity of the working class in most if not all countries throughout the world. It is generally referred to as Labour Day. How unfortunate, however, in Guyana there is no solidarity in our workers movement; there is in fact an open rift between the two rival organizations, despite the fact that one represents itself as the Guyana Trades’ Union Council (GTUC) and the other the Federation of Independent Trades Union of Guyana (FITUG), perpetuating a debilitating schism, which contributes adversely towards the best interests of the very workers that they both boast of strengthening solidarity, that appears to be permanently elusive and unachievable.
This is quite a tragedy that has existed for far too long; the ineffectiveness that pervaded in the sector is perverse and the warring labour leaders should eschew their respective personal aggrandizement and devote their time towards making their call for solidarity forever a reality. The workers deserve no less from them. This then is the dilemma that faces the entire working class of our country on another anniversary, celebrating Labour Day, a wholly unsatisfactory divisive situation.
While May 1 highlights the squabbling and divisiveness in the workers trade unions and respective umbrella organizations, GTUC and FITUG, May 5 finds that section of our population observing their holiday of Indian Arrival Day in an enviable, harmonious environment, quite a contrast to May 1. Is there something to be learnt in reviewing the two holidays in this 2008 month of May?
It is the hope that good sense will ultimately prevail in the labour movement and we confidently look forward towards an enjoyable May 5.
