FAREWELL TO KEN SYLVESTRE MCLAREN

by Godfrey Martin

FIRST MEETING:

I first met Ken in the seventies, during my student tenure at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, when I was President of the Guild of Undergraduates and then became involved in left politics. This was a period of serious enquiry and debate about the path forward in the country in the aftermath of the 1970 revolution.

Ken belonged to the Port of Spain branch of the URO (United Revolutionary Organisation). This branch was headed by another working-class giant, the late John Poon. For us who were young students, this was a period when we had to grow and learn the wider world and we all attended weekly meetings and political education sessions under the leadership of Comrades Winston Suite and the late John Poon. Ken met students from other Caribbean territories and this would have helped to develop his regional perspective.

I want to emphasise the importance and contribution of comrades like Ken and others from the trade union movement (like Albert Aberdeen), as they kept us all grounded in understanding the trials and tribulations of the working class given this was part and parcel of their everyday working experience in the trade union movement.

VISIT TO GRENADA:

Both Ken and I jointly visited Grenada during the early days of the NJM Revolution, which occurred in 1979. This was a good experience as it allowed us to bond closer and to meet with comrades from Grenada and elsewhere whilst we analysed the situation on the ground. It was indeed a major setback for left politics in the region when this nascent revolution imploded.

CONSISTENCY:

It is noteworthy that after the organisational demise of URO, Ken kept working with John Poon and others in Port of Spain, in their weekly political discussions and education and during this period, he became closely associated with the late Rawle Boland. There were also associations with the late Michael Als and his group. These were difficult times for the left and progressive movement in Trinidad and Tobago. The massive oil revenues flowing within the economy during the second half of the seventies created major distortions and illusions, including among many from the working class.

Added to this, was the rise of neo-liberalism also called the Washington Consensus. Very few wanted to talk about serious politics and the left certainly after 1983 had faced a tall order and was in retreat. Notwithstanding this, Ken’s position here was that the working class has no choice but to keep fighting and keep surviving, keep reading and studying until the tide turns.

TRADE UNION:

Ken worked with the Transport and Industrial Workers Union (TIWU) and became the union’s chief organiser. The late Joe Young (One of our national heroes, whom we celebrated with a tribute on Oct 3, 2021) had a significant and powerful impact on Ken’s trade union career and development. Ken, like so many others, was loyal to Joe and showed his love and friendship by visiting and sharing time with him in Toco during Joe’s retirement phase. Several comrades publicly paid tribute to Ken during this recent online event for the late Joe Young.

Ken also worked for a period with the National Union of Government and Federated Workers Union. I recall in the late nineties he was negotiating a pension plan agreement and he sought my advice given my actuarial background. He also told me he had completed contract stints working with one of the Regional Health Authorities as an Industrial Relations Consultant.

Ken also served as the trade union representative on one of the national sub-committees on the Vison 2020 programme organised by the Government. This underlined his technical competence.

NATIONAL WORKERS UNION (NWU):

Ken was involved in the setting up of the progressive National Workers Union and I believe he was one of their trustees. I will leave it to his NWU colleagues who I am sure will talk about his journey and contribution with them since their formation.

VISIT TO THE UK: RUSKIN COLLEGE, OXFORD

When I migrated to the UK in 1988, we lost contact for some time as we then did not have the explosion of e-mail and social media was non-existent. However, in the nineties, Ken came to the UK and attended a trade union course at Ruskin College, Oxford. I believe this was through the assistance of compatriot Rawle Boland who was a graduate of Oxford. This course brought Ken into contact with other trade unionists from different parts of the world. He indicated to me that he enjoyed this sabbatical as it afforded him the ability to appreciate and understand the challenges of the movement in different parts of the globe.

VISION OF THE FUTURE:

It would be remiss of me if I don’t share some of Ken’s thinking in the numerous discussions we held over the years. First, I am thankful for the analysis and discussions he provided as they helped to provide me, as a member of the Diaspora, with a practical understanding of the issues on the ground facing ordinary working-class folks. This is important for us living abroad who seek to find ways to contribute to our country and to regional development.

Ken understood the changing paradigms and the impact through policy on ordinary folks. The neo-liberal doctrine (Washington Consensus) was accepted as gospel by the political establishment throughout the region and our experiences in structural adjustments fell disproportionately heavily on the working class. The movement to dismantle large sections of the state sector and privatise state assets was part of this model.

We shared common views on the challenges for the trade union movement particularly as he learnt about our experiences and changes in the nature of work and employment here in the UK and elsewhere. I refer to “zero hours” and the rise of contract labour to replace the normal standard employment with worker rights. They speak here in the UK about the gig economy which we see as a metaphor for a low wage economy. Transferring risks from corporations and big business to ordinary folks.

Ken appreciated that in this new dynamic, the very existence of trade unions was under challenge. If for example, a major employer that had accounted for a large section of a union was privatised or closed, the impact on the union could be terminal.

Ken was indeed disappointed with many of the current crop of trade union leaders who as he told me were not reading or trying to learn from the experiences of others. This is disappointing, particularly as we have some excellent and experienced retired trade unionists who could be approached to advise and mentor the younger cohort.

Ken understood and appreciated the uncertainties and challenges of the times, particularly the technological changes and the impact of the fourth industrial revolution which is envisaged to change everything including production. He understood the impact and demands of the environmental and climate change crisis. This will particularly affect small island economies like ours in this region. He understood the impact of COVID-19 as it highlighted the importance of a proper functioning public health system.

All this accounts for our shared view that the trade union movement needs to revisit the fundamentals of their existence and consider the services they need to provide to their members and associates in order to persist in the long run. This should involve finding common cause with the credit union and co-operative movement and looking at new services that could be provided for the emerging dispensation.

One point that is certain, is that even though some workers may not see the importance of trade unions, it is clear that trade unions and collective bargaining are critical and will continue to play an essential role in our societies.

Ken also supported and advocated for the reparations for the descendants of the enslaved Africans. In this regard, he welcomed and was most appreciative of the revival and work of UMROBI on this and other issues.

COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MAN:

Ken was a warm loving person with a quiet disposition, simplicity, honesty, integrity, love and friendship to all his family and friends. He was a devoted family man. He was always pushing others to achieve their best and seek to improve their skill set. Even while he was in the nursing home, he was willing to help others. He connected me with the Manager of the Nursing Home, so that I could network with her son who was about to study in the UK. What a thoughtful and generous human being!

CONDOLENCES:

I met some of his family while they were visiting, studying or working here in the UK. We extend deepest condolences to all his family and particularly to Yvonne who shared the journey with Ken over many years. We must mention and thank also his step-daughter, Dr Joanne Paul who was devoted to helping Ken and to all his other relatives who allowed him the flexibility to share his time with us.

FAREWELL:

We have been graced with a working-class hero who devoted his life to service and betterment of the working class in particular and to citizens in general. He was committed to the development of our country and region. His presence has enriched our humanity and we mourn his passing.

Farewell my friend and comrade, may you rest in peace.

From the left: Winston Suite, Mac, Alston"Channa" Francois - old URO comrades at funeral of Joe Young 2012