Early Articles by Cheddi Jagan
by Cheddi B. Jagan
July 3, 1947
The vested interest with the help of their so-called freedom of the press are once again fanning the flames of another world conflagration. The “Guiana Graphic” speaking of strike action says “the time is surely approaching when the Government of British Guiana may be forced to step in and outlaw such action. To corroborate this opinion, we are told such is also the “wise” opinion of Mr. Alfred Edwards, who is a Socialist M.P. of East Middlebrough, and therefore a champion of the people. It is hardly necessary to point out that Mussolini started out as a socialist, that Hitler started out with National Socialism, and that both of them, having secured power, first began their attack against the trade union movement, an attack which finally ended in war. Mr. Edwards, an employer of labour is only one of the many Labour Party men of Great Britain who today frankly preach socialism, but actually practice capitalism and imperialism.
The usual argument is that strikes hold up production and therefore, as long as production is low our standard of living will necessarily be low. This is, however, an insignificant part of the whole truth. It is relevant that during the war, strikes in the U.S. although apparently numerous, were responsible for a very small percentage of decrease of war output, whereas Big Business through their cartel agreements with Germany and Japan sabotaged the early war effort. By misrepresenting the true economic situation and exaggerating the actual harm done by strikes, Big Business was successful in passing the anti-labour Hartley-Taft Bill, which CIO President, Phillip Murray, calls “the real step to fascism in this country.” It abolished the closed shop. The union shop, under which employees are required to join a union after a specified time of employment is only permitted if the employer desires it. Industry-wide bargaining is out-lawed, negotiations are only permitted on a company and plant basis; anti-strike injunctions are to be given freely; employers can sue unions for damages.
What we are not told by the “Guiana Graphic” is the fact that strike action is the inevitable weapon which the contradictions of capitalism place in the hands of the working class. It strikes not because it wants to stop production, but rather because it wants full employment, better wages, and an increased standard of living. The wages which it receives cannot purchase all the goods produced, therefore production is curtailed and unemployment results. It is inherent in capitalism that this struggle between the capitalist and the worker must continue. As long as the worker is working to put profits, no matter how small, into the hands of coupon-clipping capitalists, so long will there be strikes. Only under a changed political-economic system, as in socialism, where the means of production are owned by society, where profits for individuals are eliminated, and where there is no contradiction between production and distribution will there be an end to all strikes. If we are to outlaw strikes we must outlaw capitalism first.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2000
Notice in the Legislative Council
Friday, 7th MAY, 1948
MINUTES of the Proceedings of the Fourth Legislative Council of the Colony of British Guiana, at its First Session, 1947-1948, held at the Guiana Public Buildings, Georgetown, Demerara, on
FRIDAY, 7TH MAY, 1948 at 2 P.M.
PRESENT:
The President His Excellency the Governor, Sir Charles Campbell Woolley, K.C.H.G., O.B.E., H.C.
“ Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Mr. W.L. Heape, C.M.G.
“ “ the Attorney General, Mr. N.M. Duko (ag.)
“ “ the Colonial Treasurer, Mr. E.F. Mc David, C.B.E.
“ “ C.V. Wights, O.B.E. (Western Essequibo)
“ “ F.J. Seaford, C.B.E. (Nominated)
“ “ Dr. J.B. Singh, O.B.E. (Demerara-Essequibo)
“ “ Dr. J.A. Nicholson (Georgetown, North)
“ “ T. Loo (Essequibo River)
“ “ V. Roth (Nominated)
“ “ T.T Thompson (Nominated)
“ “ G.A.C. Farnum (Nominated)
“ “ D.P. Debidin (Eastern Demerara)
“ “ J. Fernandes (Georgetown Central)
“ “ Dr. G.M. Gonsalves (Eastern Berbice)
“ “ Dr. C. Jagan (Central Demerara)
“ “ W.O.R. Kendall (New Amsterdam)
“ “ C.A. McDoom (Nominated)
“ “ A.T. Peters (Western Berbice)
“ “ W.A. Phang (North Western district)
The Clerk read prayers.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, the 6th of May, 1948, as printed and circulated, were taken as read and confirmed.
UNOFFICIAL NOTICES
Dr. Jagan gave notice of the following motion:-
WHEREAS it is the desire of the United Nation Food and Agricultural Organization that every country should rationalise and re-organise its productive resources in man-power, land and machines towards increased food production so as to alleviate the world food shortage and thereby overcome starvation, misery and death to millions of inhabitants of the world;
AND WHEREAS sugar is an all-important item of food of which world demand is far greater than present world output;
AND WHEREAS the production of sugar in this Colony has been declining and compares most unfavourable with pre-war production;
AND WHEREAS this decline in production has to a great extent resulted from a prolonged strained relationship between the sugar producers and the sugar workers;
AND WHEREAS this strained relationship has been the result of unfavourable wage, working and living conditions generally, and has been responsible for the present strikes at all the sugar estates on the East Coast of Demerara and may be responsible for future strikes throughout the colony;
BE IT RESOLVED that this council strongly recommends a Committee be set up immediately to consider all the factors leading to present and past disputes and an examination of the present cost of production prices and profits to determine whether the sugar industry can afford increased wages and better working and living conditions for sugar workers;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the aforementioned Committee consider the desirability of abolishing the present plantation system of sugar-cane cultivation and substituting thereof a system of cooperative cane farming, the latter to be accomplished by the acquisition and distribution by Government of estate lands to sugar workers;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that after the investigation by the Committee the reports be submitted to the Legislative Council for consideration and action.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2000
The Need For Consumers’ Cooperatives ( Contd )
By C.B. JAGAN BSc., D.D.S
(Published in The Indian Opinion, Saturday June 2, 1945)
Within the frame work of capitalism, man to promote his welfare has adopted the cooperative movement so that
(1). Consumers will buy only those things which have definite use value. They will not purchase fraudulent articles - patient medicines, adulterated foods etc. By so doing consumers will ultimately be able to take away control of production from those who today, under the capitalistic system, produce chiefly those goods which yield maximum profit rather than maximum group welfare. Consumers cooperatives will force production of “plenty” as against the capitalistic production of “plenty” as against the capitalistic production of scarcity. Surplus coffee and oranges will not be dumpted into the sea; excess pigs will not be slaughtered and buried so as to uphold the economic theory of value that prices that will be higher as supply diminishes.
(2). Advertising that is useless will be greatly eliminated. In buying soap, a cooperative consumer will not want to support a model who has demonstrated her beautiful face in the soap advertisement. He will want to know whether he is buying the face or the soap. He will desire factual advertising such as, kind of fat used, percentage of fat used, what colouring matter if any, type of base used, etc. In buying a toothpaste or powder, he will not like to know, that his meager income is helping to pay a movie star several thousand dollars a week, of interest to him would be whether the product is accepted by the Bureau of Standards or the Dental Association. He will like to know what are the ingredients, how coarse the grit, etc.
(3). The real income of low income groups will be greatly increased. This is of great importance to labour organizations, which are always interested in collective bargaining through which better wages, shorter hours and better working conditions might be secured. These labour organizations usually associate an increase in wages with increased buying power. This however is not entirely true. A small increase in wages does not increase the real income of the individual if there is an equal or greater rise in prices. These organizations, therefore should protect and augment the worker’s small increase in wages by teaching them to become intelligent consumers against modern advertising and high pressure salesmanship and to form consumers cooperatives whereby profits or dividends will be returned to them on basis of goods purchased. Suppose a sugar estate worker was receiving a prewar salary of $3.00 per week. The labour unions may have been successful in securing for him an additional 10-20% increase in wages during the war. It is doubtful however, whether this has really increased his standard of living or his buying power because of the rise in cost of consumed goods. Add to this disadvantage also the practice of black marketing. Recently the control price of peas was 9-11 cents per pint whereas the sugar estate consumer had to pay about 17-18 cents. How can this small increase in salary compensate for the great loss in purchasing consumer goods? It can be achieved in labour organizations urging their members to augment their wages by forming consumer and producer cooperatives.
(4). Consumers will become better citizens. The very act of being a member in consumer’s cooperatives in an education in business an appreciation of the value of group welfare as against rugged individual welfare; a beginning of real democracy, both political and economic.
One or more consumer cooperatives can be organized in every village and sugar estate. Fifty, one hundred or more members can get together and collect shares for membership of $5.00 or $10.00 per shares. Those person having more money to invest can buy several shares keeping in mind however, that no matter how many shares held they will have only one vote per member. These shares will yield a fixed rate of interest but will not share in dividends. A member will receive profits only on the basis of his purchases from the store. This will necessitate an efficient book keeping system with regular reports to members. There may be some person who are willing to become members but do not have the necessary amount to purchase a share. This can be overcome by letting the dividends of those persons accumulate until the necessary amount is reached. Credit, if needed, can be obtained by cooperative, credit banks or unions.
True cooperation, whether consumer or producer, can enhance the welfare of the group. It embraces the principle of “live and lets live”. It leads to a fuller and free life.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2000
Letter to the Labour Research Board
Dear Sir,
I have just received for the first time a copy of “Labour Research” through Cultural Books. I note with interest one of your columns “Ask the L.R.D.” I therefore take this opportunity in making the following enquiries. I have been elected as a Member of the British Guiana Legislative Council since November 1947. This is the highest legislative body in this colony. The term of office is for a period of five years. Last year we have had a 4 month strike on several sugar estates which culminated in the shooting of workers by police at Plantation Enmore. During the strike, which was unauthorized, six of us who assisted were given trespass notices. These notices were temporarily suspended and later re-imposed.
A few weeks ago, one of the six, the President of a Trade Union unrecognized by the Sugar Producers Association was brought before the court on a charge of trespassing with $1000 damages; and a temporary injunction order has been made against him. The trial is still pending. A similar charge has now been brought against me. Actually I was only on the roadway in the estate talking to a few workers. The whole object of the charge is to prevent us from organizing the sugar plantation workers. I have now got myself elected to the Executive of one of the two unions, which is recognized by the Sugar Producers Association, and notice of this is to be forwarded to them. This will no doubt create an interesting situation, and that is, would the Sugar proprietors still persist in keeping me out of the estates? Nevertheless the charge instituted against me is for an alleged trespass before my election.
I shall be pleased to know whether trade union leaders, and Legislative Council members (the latter equivalent to an MP) have the right to visit, despite trespass notices, plantations and settlements, which are private…( a portion of paper had been destroyed ) resident thereon. No doubt similar situations may have arisen in the history of the trade union movement in Great Britain.
I shall be grateful for an early air-mailed reply stating full details. Kindly let me know also of your charges.
Thanking you,
Sincerely
Incidentally, the alleged trespass occurred not in my constituency. But at the same time, I am a member is Central Board of Health, Medical Advisory Committee, Education Advisory Committee, Agriculture and Fisheries Advisory Committee and Food Production Committee.
© Nadira Jagan-Brancier 2000
