Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine yesterday said that he has not examined the public service union’s letter concerning the breakdown of industrial relations with the Ministry of Public Service but promised to do so in due course.
Deonarine told Stabroek News that the situation has to be reviewed before a response can be given to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
“Once I respond to them (GPSU) my response would of course be disseminated to the union and (the) media would be able to see my written letter”, he said.
Asked if the matter is currently under conciliation by the Ministry of Labour, the Chief Labour Officer said he would not offer a comment in that regard since the situation has to undergo an assessment.
The GPSU last Wednesday at a press briefing informed reporters of a letter sent to Deonarine dated September 26, 2023 concerning the breakdown of industrial relations with the Ministry of Public Service.
The union noted in the letter that despite several communications with Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Soyinka Grogan, on the subject there was no response given to a letter sent on May 9th, 2023.
Reference was made to correspondences sent with requests for the revising of wages, salaries and allowances which are yet to be ventilated in accordance with provisions outlined in the Trade Union Recognition Act Chapter 98:07.
According to the public service union, efforts to achieve an amicable consensus in relation to the collective bargaining agreement with the Government are currently at a deadlock.
The union also informed the media of a letter sent to President Irfaan Ali on May 16, 2022, calling for the expeditious enhancement of conditions of service for medical personnel which has never been acknowledged.
“The Guyana Public Service Union is predicting a continued deterioration in the health sector which is already bordering on collapse unless factors which are driving the unabated migration of health workers from all fields and levels of qualifications are addressed in a comprehensive manner,” it noted.
As of last week Monday, Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag, declined to comment on the status of the long-overdue collective bargaining engagement with the GPSU for 2023 and on outstanding matters from previous years.
The minister when contacted by Stabroek News said that she was in a meeting and would not be able to comment on the issue. When questioned as to whether she would provide information on the matter, Parag replied in the negative.
GPSU President Patrick Yarde at Wednesday’s press conference flayed the government for its evasiveness in engaging the union on the collective bargaining process which he deemed discomforting as public servants continue to migrate.
