Latest update November 8th, 2024 12:17 AM
5% increase for Public Servants…Countrywide shutdown may be looming
A total shutdown of all public agencies may be looming as public servants continue to lobby for a 25 percent increase from the government. Government through the Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon insisted on Wednesday that salaries will be paid on December 16, with an increase of five percent, a figure that was outrightly rejected by public servants.
Industrial Relations Officer for the GPSU, Jermain Hermanstyne yesterday told Kaieteur News that public servants will continue to protest for what they deserve, which is an increase of 25 percent.
Workers outside Parliament Buildings yesterday.
According to Hermanstyne, workers became more motivated after the government showed their “unbending” approach. He said that public servants are well aware of what was passed in Parliament and would not be accepting anything less.
Hermanstyne further told Kaieteur News that they know government will pay the five percent and they are contemplating their next move which could be a countrywide shutdown. He said that workers’ rights have being trampled upon for far too long and it’s time for the government to treat public servants with respect.
On Wednesday leaders from the two major opposition political parties David Granger and Khemraj Ramjattan, along with head of GPSU Patrick Yarde, joined the protest for better wages for workers.
Granger had stressed that the Ministry of Finance has to explain why the money that was passed since April will only be paid in December.
“All you are being confronted with are lies and more no cuts in revenue….so where did the money go?” Granger queried. According to Granger, Government had commenced the process by saying that because of the budget cut, it couldn’t pay more. “The joint opposition only slashed the expenditure and
Granger said that his party is standing in solidarity with the workers, but is not going to get involved in the negotiation between the union and the government. “We support the workers and we hope to get a favourable outcome so that the workers can earn a decent living wage.”
Leader of the Alliance for Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, was adamant that there was a clear allocation made for a 15 percent increase. “The National Assembly made this allocation for the increase -at least a 10 to 15 percent – for all public servants,” Ramjattan said.
According to Ramjattan, the “little explanation” offered by the Finance Minister Ashni Singh is full of holes. He added that it is obvious that the Minister expects the media and the Guyanese people to be appreciative of the explanation given by him.
According to Ramjattan, Government had initially said that the Opposition had cut the budget, but since that explanation fell through it is now saying that this was money intended for promotion and additional staff.
He explained that the March budget had catered for all the increases in each of the Ministries and also in each subset of the various Ministries. “This $4.4B is a totally separate set of money from what we allocated for an increase during the course of the year.”
Ramjattan opined that Government must have used the money which was budgeted for public servants for “some slush fund to deal with other expenditures” “That is not how you treat your public servants.”
Yarde said that Government must explain to workers how the money which was approved by the National Assembly for the Revision of Wages and Salaries (which would have at least guaranteed a 10-15% increase) was utilized. He described the government as ‘anti-working class’ and expressed his disappointment with President Donald Ramotar on this subject.
Since the announcement of the five percent increase by government, there has been protest by public servants in several pockets across the country. The GPSU has also warned of mass industrial unrest if necessary. Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford when contacted last week said that she was unaware that workers were protesting the five percent increase.
Westford had told Kaieteur News that she was uninformed of any plans to review the proposed five per cent offer. She added, “This is not how a government operates.” Government, she said, is not going to review the five per cent proposal because of any protests and added that the workers should, in fact, “be happy with the increase.’
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