The names “International Workers’ Day”, “Labour Day” or “May Day”, are preferential names given to the day allocated for the celebration and honouring of labour rights by both workers and employers. In Guyana, this day is celebrated on May 1 every year as a public holiday, mostly devoted to the celebration of the achievements of the working class and in “remembrance of the great exploits and major sacrifices made by fellow workers” in Guyana, where industrial relations history proved to be ungenerous.
The International Labour Organization’s chosen theme for Workers’ Day 2026 is “Good psychosocial working environments: A pathway to thriving workers and strong organization,” because of its suitability and relationship to World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which precedes May Day on April 28, 2026. However, the Guyana Trades Union Congress will be celebrating with its affiliates under the theme “A century honouring the struggle for one man, one vote.”
The Constitution of Guyana guarantees trade union rights of workers, as well as, freedom of association, but, as time passed, these rights have been trampled upon in the name of political expediency and, among other things, glaring double standards in the application of these constitutional entitlements. These entitlements only become self-evident, when persons of perceived political affiliations and/or with special considerations are affected, while for others the application hoovers as a myth, as acts of discrimination, victimization and/or as unlawful abuses wantonly perpetrated require legal challenges or excursions into joblessness.
Attacks on the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) became prevalent, where over the years it suffered a litany of abuses, including, but not limited to:
· The suspension of the Agency Shop Agreement, where after a significant amount of Public Servants opted to freeload on Union benefits that were achieved by successful Union representation, because of either sustained political pressures or selfish desires decided not to be organized within the Public Service Union;
· Reregistration of membership;
· Union busting and de-recognition of representation at a number of agencies, including Forestry Commission. The Union was able to recover the part of its recognition base at MMA/ADA that was delinked and twice defended politically inspired polls at Anna Regina Town Council. In the case of the Maritime Authority, the poll was scuttled when it was recognized that the GPSU would have won. To date the Maritime Authority Branch is not organized, because of this unusual political intervention;
· Active intentions to weaken militant Public Service Workers, through the refusal to promote vigilant union members and processes of selectively paying higher wages, salaries, and allowances to a chosen few;
· Conveniently restricting the militancy and welfare of the Union’s membership by passing legislation to label a large percentage of Public Servants’ functions as “essential services.” In this regard, the GPSU countered by demanding that such workers must be paid the annual one-month bonus that has the full support of the GPSU and is being paid members of the disciplinary services, also categorized as essential workers. This request has not yet been approved to date;
Added to the Government’s apparent lack of empathy for the working class, its continued ploy to remove workers from protected job conditions by placing them under insecure contract conditions that shatter pensionable rights, among other things, is a disturbing trend taking hold throughout the Public Service. This widespread use of contract employment in roles that are clearly permanent and pensionable undermines job security, limits access to union representation, and strips workers of benefits they rightly deserve. Even more concerning is that with the offer of contract work persons are often lured by the myth of contract gratuity, only to find that it is sometimes not paid because of subjective claims of poor performance. This is added to the fact that there is misrepresentation that such workers should not be unionized, which is a blatant violation of the Constitution of Guyana that guarantees freedom of association and the right to be organized. The GPSU has repeatedly intervened to address these injustices and continues to demand that all Public Service Workers be treated with fairness, equity and dignity and must be paid a living wage.
The machinations of the political hierarchy seemed designed to consistently deny Public Servants a living wage through annual salary and wage impositions that occurred repeatedly over the years 2001 through 2023. In those trying years, the administration adamantly refused to meet and negotiate with the GPSU, the Workers’ Representative and displayed a blatant lack of inclusivity in relation to matters concerning its workers.
The Government’s previous stance against bilateral negotiations, together with its dictatorial leaning towards the annual imposition of meagre increases in wages and salaries for Public Servants, was challenged by the GPSU in the Law Courts, where it was upheld that based on the Agreement for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes between Government of Guyana and the GPSU, the acts of the Government are unlawful, when decisions affecting the membership of the Union are made without dialogue and consensus and are also in breach of Public Service Rules. To this end, the Judge issued a mandatory order requiring “meaningful negotiations” with the GPSU, but to date, in contempt of the order of the Court, Government’s Representative, Ms. Soyinka Grogan, M.S., Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Public Service, still obstinately avoids meeting with the GPSU.
The achievement of a negotiated settlement in the year 2024, even though far from the projected living wage, is seen as a “silver lining” emerging from the darkness after more than two decades. This hopefully gives the appearance that the groundwork would be laid for Public Servants to be properly remunerated and elevated from the debts of poverty. However, the GPSU must be cautious as emanations from the Hon. Minister of the Public Service Mr. Zulfikar Ally indicated that there are plans afoot to vary the conditions of service for public workers, by surreptitiously making amendments to the Public Service Rules. The GPSU is prepared to challenge any such unilateral and consequentially illegitimate action.
The Public Servants of Guyana have continuously provided quality public services in a politically hostile environment that evidently ignores the debilitating effects the increased cost of living has had on the livelihood of public workers. In fact, it appeared that the political hierarchy in recognition of its own volatility to the cost of living took action sometime in the year 2015 to indemnify themselves against price increases, whereby any meagre percentage increase on the paltry salaries of workers, would improve the salaries of the political hierarchy simultaneously with hefty differentials in pay that sometimes equate or exceed the revised minimum wage being paid to workers.
Caring Governments across the globe find joy in alleviating poverty among its citizenry, as a motivating factor towards a happy and healthy workforce. The Government of Guyana finds joy in the building of social and governmental infrastructure, which may not be enjoyed widely by workers, because of spending limits imposed upon them. The perennial cry of workers in Guyana that the wages, salaries and allowances provided to them have afforded neither comfort nor created opportunity, even to explore the Country of their birth, may have escaped the hearing or hearts of some selfish, clueless politicians elected to manage the affairs of state.
The GPSU is working tirelessly to defend the rights of Public Service workers as their legally recognized representative. This includes, but is not limited to, resolving cases of harassment of workers, abuses of authority and unequal treatment, including representations for permanent pensionable appointments with superannuation benefits. Even though there is growing resistance to the Union’s operations, coupled with political interference, subtle attempts to silence the Union and its leadership and disregard for collective agreements, the GPSU has taken steps to remain at the forefront of the labour movement.
The GPSU’s triumph over the Government’s prolonged attempt to undermine the administration of the Union and disrespect the Collective Bargaining Agreements has now placed its operatives in contempt of orders of the Courts, a position that must be capitalized to the benefit of the membership.
The Constitution and Laws of Guyana have always been clear on the rights of Citizens and Trades Unions, but from time to time there is Executive overreach. An independent judiciary is fundamental to democracy for ensuring fair, impartial trials free from political or external pressure. It has a duty to uphold the rule of law by preventing government overreach, while protecting minority rights and guaranteeing that justice is based on law, rather than fear or favor. Its independence also ensures social stability and public trust. The GPSU is assured that once such independence is maintained the rights of workers will always be assured, as has been the case with the recent matter that would ultimately restore negotiated settlements for salaries, wages and allowances.
Leaders of the GPSU in the past and present have faced significant challenges from the Government and other political elements in the representation of members’ rights. In the opinion of the GPSU, these representations were reasonable, feasible, sustainable and affordable. Because of the unrelenting and fearless positions taken, these leaders were faced with threats to their lives, harassment by elements of the Police Force and unjustified criminal charges, which were successfully defended in the Courts.
With all challenges in clear view, the GPSU would like to extend warm and respectful greetings to all Public Servants across the country and workers in every sector. As always, Labour Day is organized to enable reflection, remembrance and renewed resilience. It is also to reignite the spirit of solidarity that has carried generations of workers, who in unity through hardship and oppression, without regard for race or ethnicity, demanded fairness for our energies that contributed in harmony towards the building of our beloved Country.
