In Memoriam: George De Peana
George De Peana, former ILO Senior Specialist in Workers' Activities, passed away on 26 July 2021.
30 July 2021
In 1974, Mr. George De Peana was granted one year's leave as General Secretary by the Guyana Clerical and Commercial Workers' Union to join the International Labour Office (ILO) to implement an ILO/ Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) Caribbean Workers’ Education Project.
His first posting was at the Trade Union Education Institute (TUEi), University of the West Indies, Jamaica, whose Director was the late Professor Rex Nettleford. His responsibilities included lecturing at the TUEi, and advising Unions in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda and Belize. In his own words, Mr. De Peana said that accepting the position would have offered him “a chance to say ‘thank you’ to the ILO for a fellowship that I had earlier received from the Organization”. This intensive fellowship programme enabled him to carry out studies of industrial relation systems in Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America.
He was transferred to the ILO Office in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1976 as Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) for the second phase of the Project, whose focus shifted from new methods and techniques in workers' education to subjects such as economics for workers, occupational safety and health and women and trade unions until 1980.
Always an optimist, De Peana broke new ground in the delivery of workers' education programmes that met the needs and requirements of the regional trade union movement. He also spearheaded the establishment of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Joint Committees at the workplace due to deficiencies in the laws governing safety and health in the workplace in the Caribbean.
A few milestones during that time were the production of three manuals on Methods and Techniques in Workers' Education, Economics for Caribbean Trade Unionists, and Occupational Safety and Health. Another output was a film entitled "Prevention is Better Than Cure", a teaching tool, focused on the problems in workplace safety and health which was shot exclusively in the Caribbean.
In 1980, he was appointed to the post of Adviser to the Suriname Labour College where his primary responsibilities were to assist in the reorganization of the College in general and in particular, the programmes offered by the Institution, with emphasis on an outreach programme. Special commendation was given to the fact that many women trade unionists were trained under this programme.
In 1982, he was appointed Regional Adviser, Workers' Activities in the ILO Caribbean Office, a post which he held for eleven years. During this period, Structural Adjustment Programmes impacted heavily on the collective bargaining process and job security. Against this background, De Peana stipulated that programmed activities at the regional and national levels were aligned to help unions to devise coping strategies. As such, training activities were intensified and numerous fellowships to the ILO Training Centre in Turin, were awarded.
In 1993, he was appointed Senior Specialist for Workers' Activities, the post he held until his retirement in 1996. Some of the distinguished accomplishments under his tenure were:
1. Eight meetings of the Caribbean Workers Educators;
2. Intensification of the work on OSH; and
3. Increased education and development of trade union members.
Mr. De Peana was known for his tenacity, commitment and dedication to workers’ rights. Throughout his career, he played an active role in promoting social dialogue and tripartism, collective bargaining and freedom of association. His contribution to improving the living and working conditions of workers in the Caribbean and his contribution to the advancement of the work of the ILO will not be forgotten.
The Director and staff of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean extend their condolences to his family and loved ones.
His first posting was at the Trade Union Education Institute (TUEi), University of the West Indies, Jamaica, whose Director was the late Professor Rex Nettleford. His responsibilities included lecturing at the TUEi, and advising Unions in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda and Belize. In his own words, Mr. De Peana said that accepting the position would have offered him “a chance to say ‘thank you’ to the ILO for a fellowship that I had earlier received from the Organization”. This intensive fellowship programme enabled him to carry out studies of industrial relation systems in Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America.
George De Peana, front left, with other members of the ILO Caribbean Multidisciplinary Advisory Team, January 1996. |
Always an optimist, De Peana broke new ground in the delivery of workers' education programmes that met the needs and requirements of the regional trade union movement. He also spearheaded the establishment of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Joint Committees at the workplace due to deficiencies in the laws governing safety and health in the workplace in the Caribbean.
George De Peana during the 8th Caribbean Workers Educators Meeting, May 1996. |
In 1980, he was appointed to the post of Adviser to the Suriname Labour College where his primary responsibilities were to assist in the reorganization of the College in general and in particular, the programmes offered by the Institution, with emphasis on an outreach programme. Special commendation was given to the fact that many women trade unionists were trained under this programme.
The Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Denzil Douglas, greets George De Peana, ILO Senior Specialist, Workers' Activities, May 1996. |
George De Peana at his retirement function, 12 July 1996, with the late Grace Walker, ILO Caribbean Office's Senior Finance Officer. |
1. Eight meetings of the Caribbean Workers Educators;
2. Intensification of the work on OSH; and
3. Increased education and development of trade union members.
Mr. De Peana was known for his tenacity, commitment and dedication to workers’ rights. Throughout his career, he played an active role in promoting social dialogue and tripartism, collective bargaining and freedom of association. His contribution to improving the living and working conditions of workers in the Caribbean and his contribution to the advancement of the work of the ILO will not be forgotten.
The Director and staff of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean extend their condolences to his family and loved ones.