GPSU incensed at lack of gov’t response on wages

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has accused the PPP/C government of inviting a confrontation by failing to respond to its request to begin negotiations for increases in wages and salaries.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, First Vice President Dawn Gardener reminded that public servants have not received an increase since January 2019. She noted that the union has written the Government since November 2020 to begin negotiations but has not yet received a response.

“The GPSU has sent reminders to the Government representatives calling on them to respect their obligations under the legally binding “Agreement for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes” by commencing negotiations …[ but] it seems that there is a well-orchestrated plan to suffocate workers in the Public Sector and by extension their families. Such acts are inhumane and cruel,” Gardener said.

The trade unionist was quick to highlight the fact that government recently responded to protests from workers in the sugar sector by making available $200 million yet refuses to make a similar consideration for public sector workers.

“Public Servants have been providing quality public services for the past years without any meaningful economic improvement in their earnings and are being pressured to perform in an increasingly deadly environment,” Gardner lamented adding that the state coffers could afford to pay a substantial increase to every level of worker.

She reminded that public servants have faced similar constraints under successive administrations both from the PPP/C and APNU+AFC.

“Assurance was given in 1992, but not honoured. Again in 2015 there was the promise of the restoration of Collective Bargaining but this did not happen. In 2020 there was the commitment of inclusiveness and the slogan ‘A government for all’. This has been replaced with rejection and political discrimination – which has resulted in the lack of trust by the employees towards their employer,” she stressed, while imploring government to cease this “unconscionable, uncaring and insensitive approach” in addressing the protection and welfare of public servants– the frontline workforce.

Asked what options remain with the union if government continues to ignore their request GPSU President Patrick Yarde said that the executive was “in the process of consulting with members at every level and about almost everything.”

“[We are consulting about] how they are affected? What they are experiencing and what they feel they have the potential and capacity to contribute to this issue. The consultation is still going on,” he stated adding that the COVID-19 pandemic is making the process difficult and slow.

Yarde warned that if the union resorts to industrial action it will not stop until its demands are met.

“Once we commence industrial action from here on it would not cease until we have the results we desire. We have given enough accommodation… whatever sacrifices we will have to make we will have to make… everybody could report sick for a week or two weeks. You don’t have to go anywhere you don’t have to get any transportation just stay home. Close down the system... we would not support [workers] coming on to the streets in droves but we will support them doing anything that will bring pressure on this government to cease this abuse of powers,” he said.