Public Servants expect a living wage  

Dear Editor

The Guyana Public Service Union, while finalising its proposal for wages and salaries for the public service and public sector workers so that it could be submitted for consideration in the 2020 Budget, could not help noting the headlines of the Guyana Chronicle of August 21, 2020 “Oil Revenue to Strengthen Productive Sectors” which appears to be the government’s thrust through a statement by the Hon. Vice President, Bharat Jagdeo.

This statement has raised concerns within the ranks of the membership of the GPSU since it appears as though it has implications for realistic and adequate increases in remuneration for all public sector workers. The Union hopes that this was not an indication of a clandestine plan to short-change the hard working and underpaid public service workers for political gamesmanship. The GPSU has had a long history of struggles and sacrifices for respect and recognition with the previous PPP regime when it sought to establish and implement the foundation for a living wage and adequate pay for public sector workers, even after agreements were reached. In this environment of improved revenues, the GPSU expects that no excuses should deter fulfillment and realization of this obligation. The Union would be keenly monitoring this situation with the expectation of a favourable conclusion.

Regards
Guyana Public Service Union