About a week ago, with ‘tears in their eyes’, some of the executive members of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) shared with the Stabroek News ‘their bewilderment at the lack of movement on the part of the administration to begin the collective bargaining process despite making several public statements about its importance’ (GPSU alarmed at gov’t lack of engagement on public service wage talks).
As reported, their lamentation was heart-wrenching. Upon coming to office, apparently the president went on TV and promised public servants a 20% across the board increase in wages and salaries, the reintroduction of the agency shop arrangement that had been withdrawn from the union by the PPP/C, and to begin collective bargaining by the first week in June last year.
I really felt for the comrades, as they claimed that none of these promises have materialised. Instead, the regime unilaterally established the commission of inquiry into the public service and then told the union that negotiations had to await the commission’s report. The commission has submitted its report and not only have negotiations not begun but the union is now hearing that there will be ‘no increase across the board but people will be rewarded according to their performance’ (Ibid).
