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GPSU hints at strike action
After years of petitioning for an increase in wages and salaries for public servants, President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yarde yesterday called on workers nationwide to “stand up for their rights” if they are not granted a 25% increase soon.
Yarde made this statement at a press conference yesterday held in the board room of the Guyana Public Service Union.
The President said he was “upset, disturbed and emotional” about Government’s position on the proposed raise of remuneration and earnings.
Patrick Yarde flank by members of the Union
“I have concluded that the government has a callous attitude towards the premiere workforce of the nation and public sector workers. This has been repeating itself over time and we’re in the 13th year and still no answer,” Yarde said.
He said that the current remuneration given to public servants is a “blatant insult” to the hard work of those employees who labour in the different entities across Guyana.
Yarde noted that with respect to the 2013 budget, the GPSU submitted proposals to Minister of Finance Ashni Singh for an increase of 25% and has since called on the government to allocate the payment in increments.
The President also pointed out that there are cases where workers who have been promoted to senior levels still collect minimum wage.
Yarde noted that the union gave the government a two –week ultimatum to respond to a letter which was sent to them, but, has gotten no response to date.
“So we wrote the Ministry of Labour asking for conciliation. It has been three weeks and there have been no response… this is highly unusual because we have not been invited to reconciliation talks”, Yarde said.
He added that the GPSU resorted to signing a nationwide petition which was sent to President Donald Ramotar. “We have thousands of signatures from workers all across Guyana and we have thousands more yet to come in but the set that we received I have signed to it and sent it to the President,” the GPSU president said.
Yarde in closing remarks said “Public workers throughout the country, must be in a state of readiness to stand up for their rights because it is clear that it is only when we stand up for our rights people will respect us”.
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