The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is making it very clear that following Mr. Irfaan Ali’s assumption as President in 2020, he has only managed to pay the workers of the state a miserly cash grant of $25,000 and an equally shameful seven percent (7%) across-the-board increase in December 2021, amidst the billions of dollars being doled out daily to his constituents and amidst much political fanfare.
The Union in a statement made known that since 2020 they have written to Government repeatedly, requesting collective bargaining on Public Servants wages, salaries and allowances, to no avail. “And they appear to be on track to make another illegal declaration for salaries and wages increases in December 2022, as has been its modus operandi for several years.”
The Ali administration has, by their action, made known which Guyanese they are interested in or they think qualify to be in the ‘one Guyana’ slogan tent. Fisherfolks, sugar workers, farmers and foreign businesses are those that get economic priority interest as public servants, teachers and bauxite workers continue to be ignored. There has been no effort by the government to engage the unions in collective bargaining, in as much as the Constitution of Guyana protects the rights of workers who are unionised.
GPSU has taken the government to court, requesting the court rule there must be respect for collective bargaining. One senior public servant told Village Voice whilst he supports going to court, he is not hopeful anything good will come of it, and even if the court rules collective bargaining must be respected the government will ignore the ruling. According to the gentleman, who has two years before retirement, “You don’t see who the government is looking after and whose side the court is always on.”
The Union is accusing the government of having an extended political campaign funded by taxpayers’ dollars and is ignoring public sector workers who turn the wheels of production. It has been pointed out that:-
- “In matters relating to healthcare, the President turned a blind eye to the woes of Doctors and Nursing Staff struggling through the rising costs of the COVID-19 pandemic and denied them risk allowances, even though the team appointed by him agreed that such allowances were due and payable to the healthcare workers. Such was the magnitude of the betrayal, as the agreement with the team realised the cessation of the industrial action.
- At the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) the GPSU asked for an enquiry into allegations of victimisation, harassment, racism and discrimination at the work place, since February 2022, but to date there has been no enquiry into the matter and the alleged perpetrator is being considered for promotion.
iii. Another issue is that of a serving minister, who has said and done some absurd things that do not benefit his office, but these have been condoned and defended by the administration. There are other instances, which give rise to the unassailable conclusion that the wily President is not committed to good governance, free from discrimination.”
Government continues to show blatant disregard for industrial relations, collective bargaining, ILO Conventions, labour laws, etc. the Union pointed out. And in calling it as they see they said the actions of Government appear discriminatory, given that some Trade Unions aligned to Government seem to have access to the collective bargaining mechanism with Government and have had remedies for their members.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, the industrial arm of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), is one such union that stands apart in receiving preferential treatment even as the Constitution and Laws of Guyana enshrine identical treatment for all workers who are represented by trade unions.
Pointing out that there have been public outcries in the visual, print and social media about the treatment of Public Servants, which Government continue to ignore, the Union noted that the government is failing to meet its responsibilities and obligations under legally binding Collective Labour Agreements, Labour Laws, ILO Conventions and workers’ rights enshrined in the Constitution.
“Government seems oblivious to the existence of toiling Public Servants or of their plight. government has displayed a pellucid lack of concern for Public Servants, while masquerading as a working-class government. One would have thought that the government, having recognised its failures in the past to do well for its employees, amidst the spiraling price increases, would have sought to remedy its failures by engaging the GPSU early in 2022.” This has not been the case, the Union said pointing out that such conduct is insensitive and irresponsible and Public Servants should recognise government’s lack of respect and value for their sacrifice and contribution to the country’s development.
According to the Union, the disregard is occurring while the government refuses to appoint a Public Service Commission, a constitutional body to administer the needs of public servants, on the other hand hurriedly appointed a partial Police Service Commission with a clear political motive.
Calling the government’s attitude to ensuring good governance and a professional public service environment “irresponsible” the Union said the trend has resulted and continues to result in the current escalation of crime and majorly in the exodus of skills, particularly in the health sector. “This trend has the capacity to put the entire nation at risk.”
The circumstances outlined above resulted in legal advice premised on Government’s shameless display of executive lawlessness and continued insensitivity and disregard for the rule of law, including the Constitution of Guyana, ILO Conventions, and legally binding Collective Agreements. This inappropriate and irresponsible conduct has once again led to an impasse between the GPSU and the Government of Guyana. An essential ingredient in this relationship is trust, which is sorely lacking. It is hoped that justice would be served, soonest, said the Union, alluding to its matter in court.
