Markets face closure as workers go on strike today

Dec 15, 2014 News

…300 staff still to receive wage increase

“There is really nothing we can do. I will have to see what will happen when I get into the office tomorrow (today), and if possible, maybe the government can help.” This was the response given by Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba yesterday as the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) braces itself for possible strike action set to take place today.

Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba

President of the Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union (GLGOU), Dale Beresford has promised that union members will down their tools today in what could very well become the first day of strike action for unapproved salary increases for some 250 to 300 City Council workers.
Beresford announced last Thursday that increases for professional, clerical and other administrative staffers of the Council were yet to be approved by full Council despite having the go ahead from the agency’s Personnel and Financial Committees. He had given the Council a 48-hour ultimatum which ended on Friday and was adamant that the union would take serious measures if the matter was not addressed.
Sooba told the media that if the strike should take place, this would include managers, doctors among others who are all attached to the Council. The issue, she said, involves allowances for the workers, a matter that has been continuously delayed.
The workers’ increase has already been considered and is ready to be paid out, she continued, however it is left to be passed by the Mayor and Councillors as is Statutory.
She said that two Statutory meetings ago the report was up for consideration but it was decided by the Council that the workers should be paid in line with the increases for the Councillors.
“They (Councilors) want me to pay increases retroactive of 2012,” Sooba said.
She maintained however that she cannot pay increases to the Councillors since their payments are decided at government level.
She said currently, Councillors receive $45,000 in duty and allowance while the Mayor and his Deputy receive $75,000. However, depending on the attendance of the Councillors at the various meetings held, this is how they are paid, she explained.
The Town Clerk pointed out that many persons stand to be affected if the strike is to take place. “Christmas shoppers will be affected,” she noted, adding that there is not much that can be done.
Sooba said that depending on the magnitude of the strike, assistance would be sought from the Local Government Ministry to ascertain the best way forward.

GLGOU President Dale Beresford

The union leader had stated that city markets, the abattoir and other municipal centres will be affected by the strike.
He said the union sympathizes with the Mayor and Councillors over their struggle to get increases but their contention with the government is different from approving the increases for Council staffers since a collective labour agreement exists between the Council and the union.
He said no agreement exists where Council workers are paid in line with the Councillors’ increases. The workers will be paid, he claimed, or “appropriate industrial action” will follow. It has been expressed that a special meeting is scheduled for tomorrow so that the issue could be addressed. Beresford said the union is not buying that story and strike action will commence today.

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