The Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) said though the past year was a mix of successes and challenges the most disappointing was the government’s proposed 5% increase to workers and that the trade union movement remains divided.

In a December 27 press release the union said paying a 5% increase is not enough as “It did not even equate to the rate of inflation, which means that these workers are being made poorer.” At the same time, in terms of percentage the government’s proposal for pay increases for Members of Parliament (MPs) is more than five times the payout for public sector workers but if it comes to fruition, the union would support it as “we understand that they have not enjoyed any increases for several years. The Government must take note however that there are also some public sector workers who did not get increases for several years.”

The CCWU said it is also disheartened that the trade union movement, “Due to the posturing of the leadership of the established Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC)