The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has noted with great dismay the government’s continued reluctance to engage in collective bargaining with the unions and is appalled by the one-off payment for public sector workers.
In a release last week, the GTUC stated its condemnation, “in the strongest possible terms,” of the announcements by President Irfaan Ali that public sector workers will receive a $25,000 bonus and certain categories of teachers will move in salary from the lowest band in their salary scale to the highest.
The GTUC did not hesitate to point out that the two announcements trample on the constitutionally protected right of teachers and public servants to engage in collective bargaining with the government through the Guyana Teachers Union and Guyana Public Service Union, respectively. In addition, the GTUC heaped scorn on the one-off payment of $25,000 (equivalent to US$125) describing it as an “insult and peanuts” for a class of people that year-long have kept the engine of government “firing on all cylinders.” Likewise, it felt similarly about the pay increase to certain categories of teachers.
“The arbitrary increase in wage/salary bands that predate the oil economy also ignores the trade unions’ calls to respect collective bargaining and bring wage/salary bands in line with today’s economy,” the GTUC said.
The release posited that government workers, which includes public servants and teachers, are not being paid income commensurate with the world’s fastest growing economy. An economy, it noted, that in the last eight years has announced 46 oil finds; an economy that in 2023 will earn US$1.88 billion in oil revenue alone, money previously unseen by this nation. Yet the workers who are making it possible for the government to effectively and efficiently function, “are being thrown crumbs!” As such, the GTUC is calling on workers not to be fooled as they deserve earnings befitting an oil and gas economy. Such benefits, it asserted, are not only for foreign nationals but also local labour, therefore workers must fight for more.
Espousing the view that the government “is afraid” to negotiate with the unions, the release informed that this was not only in violation of Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act and Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana, but also the oath of office President Ali took to uphold the Constitution and Laws of Guyana. “The government fears if they come to the bargaining table, based on the trade unions’ proposals, they would have to deliver or show cause why they cannot,” it added. It noted that Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act requires the employer to treat with the union and negotiate in good faith, however, the government continues to operate in violation of this law. “Workers continue to be abused by the government, thrown peanuts, and are expected to be welcoming of the disrespect,” it stated.
The GTUC also took note of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s denunciation of the federation, at his Thursday press conference, for having only opposition supporters at the opening of its 5th Triennial Congress on Wednesday. It emphasised that invitations were issued to both members of the opposition leadership and government ministers, and challenged the government to openly state why it sought to boycott the event.
The release noted that the PPP government ministers, including President Ali, attended the conferences of Federation of Independent Trade Union Congress (FITUG), and Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). It stated, “Whilst GTUC has no problem with such participation, it would not be unfair to ask whether the government attendance and participation at those conferences were intended to signal to the nation that these unions and affiliates are PPP unions? Further, the government should answer whether their absence from the GTUC’s conference could be construed as part of their ‘one Guyana’ policy where the other half of society does not matter.”
Public Service Minister Sonia Parag also came in for rebuke for her “attacks” on former minister Carl Greenidge and immediate past president Coretta McDonald for presentations made at the opening of the GTUC conference.
It was explained that Greenidge not only charged workers to assert their right and role in society, but highlighted the government’s right and duty to respect collective bargaining and cater for all citizens. He also noted that these factors were fundamental to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. McDonald meanwhile, highlighted the government’s “egregious conduct”, the release said. It added that both presenters in their presentations buttressed their contention by evidence. The claim made by Parag that statements made by the two presenters were misleading was “unsubstantiated,” the release said. The GTUC said it interpreted the criticism as an attempt to dispute what was said without marshalling any facts to prove Greenidge and McDonald were misleading. GTUC called on the minister to provide “evidence to counter the evidence” provided by Greenidge and McDonald.
The PPP was also taken to task for its reluctance to accept criticism. “The PPP’s problem is that they do not want any challenge, or any divergent views given expression in society. They always want to challenge what others say even when they are misleading the nation,” the release added.
