At the opening ceremony of Labour Week in Guyana, Coretta Mc Donald, General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, delivered a strong critique of the current state of the working class. Speaking at the Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow monument during a wreath-laying ceremony, Mc Donald emphasized that despite the country’s growing oil revenues, workers are still grappling with poor living conditions and economic instability.
“As we reflect on labour today, we must do so with honesty and clarity. Starvation-level wages have created starvation-level incomes,” Mc Donald said. “Many workers are struggling to meet even their most basic needs due to the rising cost of living.”
She pointed out that although public servants, including teachers and nurses, received a 10% salary increase in 2024, the cost-of-living increases have far outpaced wage adjustments, leaving many still unable to keep up with everyday expenses.
Mc Donald also voiced concern over what she described as a growing disregard for trade unions by the government. She referenced the challenges her union has faced in trying to engage the government in meaningful dialogue over salary negotiations.
“There must be no stifling of the trade union movement,” she said, warning against union leaders who align too closely with political or employer interests at the expense of the workers they represent. “To do so is a betrayal of the movement.”
Calling for unity, Mc Donald urged fellow union members and leaders to stand together and remain independent in their advocacy.
“We cannot afford to pull against each other or side with those who suppress us,” she said. “If labour is to take its rightful place, we must act as one. It won’t happen overnight, but the journey must begin.”
Labour Day in Guyana will be formally observed on Thursday, with marches and rallies expected across the country to continue highlighting workers’ issues and rights.
