The Guyana Trades Union Congress has written the government calling for the reinstatement of collective bargaining and it cautioned the administration to be judicious in the way it handles the public outcry over the 50% hike in salaries for Cabinet ministers.
The GTUC statement follows:
GTUC believes in a Wage-led economy, which is grounded in the principle that a nation’s human resources must be at the centre of development and guides our call for workers to be paid a Living Wage.
The citizens’ response to the increase of remuneration for ministers and parliamentarians calls for commitment from the government that would result in decision that society can accept and respect. While there may be an absence of scientific polling to gauge overall opinion on pertinent issues in society, the continuous, sustained and heightened voices, inclusive of that from varied and unexpected sources, are enough to warrant the government’s judicious attention.
On 11th May the citizens fired the PPP/C for their arrogance, abuse of State resources and laws, and contempt for the masses. On this same day the citizens hired the APNU+AFC to form the new government. By this single most important act the citizens sent a message that PPP’s hubris and violations will not be tolerated from the APNU+AFC. We are witnessing this today in the reaction to the salary issue.
The last time this nation saw such outcries against government’s action was November 2014 when then President Ramotar abused his authority in the misapplication of Article 70 in the Guyana Constitution by proroguing Parliament, in order to silence the voice of the majority, through their elected representatives, to debate and cast a vote of confidence on the government’s stewardship consistent with Article 106 (7).
During the life of the 10th Parliament, President Ramotar refused to sign Local Government bills passed by the National Assembly to vest power to the grassroots. He also refused to sign the bill that would have seen reduction in the uncapped benefits for Former Presidents. There was his refusal also to establish the constitutional required Public Procurement Commission that would check abuse of the people’s money in the system, among about other executive abuses. The conduct of the Ramotar regime resulted in its downfall on 11th May 2015.
In 2011 the shift of parliamentary power to the opposition was the result of the people’s rejection of the excesses, arrogance and tyranny of the Bharrat Jagdeo regime. His was a government that presided over the nation through terror, fear, death squads, violation of laws, transgression of citizens’ rights, insulting citizens, divvying up the national patrimony among himself and friends, and other wanton abuse of the nation’s resources.
2015 has seen growth in our politics and citizens’ activism. GTUC reminds the politicians the power and authority they use are vested in them by the citizens. Ultimately politicians are accountable to the citizens and must never lose sight of this principle. As this salary outcry is increasing and being sustained beyond the proverbial ‘nine days’ it requires good sense prevailing on the part of the government.
GTUC’s position on the salary issue is that of process. It is our belief that if you start wrong, you will end wrong. The product from the application of a wrong process will be questionable and this in part is driving the outcries today.
This nation must therefore see reinstatement of collective bargaining and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms as a matter of priority. Collective bargaining must commence in the Public Sector, which will ensure the resetting of relativity in the Wage and Salary Structure, from which ministers, parliamentarians and other public servants will earn wages/salary and conditions of employment as a result of the process.
Comprehensive collective bargaining will impact on income in all sectors (public, private and cooperatives) of the economy, address pensions and other remunerations, since it will be done within the developmental policies of the nation. The Public Sector sets the tone for what happens in the other sectors.
GTUC has dispatched a letter to senior minister with responsibility for Labour, Ms. Volda Lawrence requesting engagement between the government and trade union community.
