The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), in its new year’s message, has slammed the 5% wage hike for the public sector and has called on the government to commit itself to “the principle and practice of respect and adherence to the process of free collective bargaining.”
In a press release signed by its President Andrew Garnett, the GTUC said it firmly believes that the endurance, resilience, maturity and responsibility citizens displayed throughout the year, particularly after the general and regional elections “has established the framework for progressive constitutional and electoral reforms which are urgently needed to address the many problems of our nation.” The union calls on the government, parliamentary opposition political parties and members of civil society to work towards deepening the democratic process, the adherence to the principles of good governance, accountability, transparency, respect for the rule of law, equity and social cohesion.
It said all efforts must be made to ensure that 2007 is marked by “comprehensive and determined efforts to create jobs for the poor, to adopt the decent work agenda [and] to provide a living wage to long suffering public servants”
