Once the programme of official events for the Jubilee Independence celebrations is over one expects that there will be some movement on the commencement of discussions between the government and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) on wages and salaries and related issues. Frankly, it would be unfair, to say the least, for the talks to be delayed any longer. Public servants have been expectant but disciplined and, frankly, as the President of the GPSU put it in an interview published in this newspaper, the government’s earlier expressed sentiments towards public servants must be reflected in the manner in which it conducts the negotiations.
One of the key issues will, of course be about numbers, that is to say whether or not what is available to increase salaries meets with the expectations of the union.
In this regard it has to be said that open and honest negotiations between employer and employee having not been par for the course here in Guyana for many moons, the question arises as to whether, were a stalemate of that nature to arise, the two sides can muster a modus vivendi.
The other point to be made at this juncture is whether or not it is likely that the President (and the union) will take a public position on the Report of the COI before the negotiations begin. Depending on their respective views the negotiations may be difficult or otherwise.
Certainly, in the context of the anticipated negotiations. Chapter 4 of the Report of the COI is worth commenting on, albeit briefly. It sets out what it describes as “the mechanism for the determination of wages and salaries” that address a range of issues which, arguably, could find their way into the imminent negotiations. It would be interesting to see whether this is so or not and how these impact the outcomes of the negotiations.
That, however, is a point in passing. The substantive point has to do with the desirability of there being no further undue delay in the commencement of the negotiations since it is difficult to see how the Report of the COI can be rendered relevant if the issue of wages and salaries is not settled at the negotiating table first.
