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Weeks after 48-hr ultimatum…No word from GPSU on workers’ representation
By Zena Henry
Despite complaints of government imposing wages and salaries on public workers for the last 13 years, there has been no word from the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU); the agency tasked with representing the civil servants.
GPSU President Patrick Yarde
The body which promised “action” if the government remained defiant toward the union’s call for an increased public servant wage percent; has remained silent almost two months after issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to the Administration.
President of GPSU, Patrick Yarde had told reporters days after the government had imposed yet another wage increase on public workers, that he was willing to go beyond the 57-day strike which the union had initiated in 1997, if the government continued to dismiss the concerns of the body, and by extension, its members. Yarde had also promised media operatives that one week after issuing the ultimatum, if the government had not responded; he would update the nation as to what follow-up action would be taken.
That promise was made on December 2 last year, when Yarde addressed what he said was another “insult” coming from the government. However, when Kaieteur News sought an update on the matter and how the agency was moving ahead to address this “insult”, the newspaper was unable to get an answer.
The publication made contact with the GPSU office and was told by a staffer that the public servants’ matter is “on hold”. After requesting a word with the GPSU President, the newspaper was told further that he would call back in 15 minutes. However, a call was never returned to the newspaper and more than three phone calls made to the GPSU during the day went unanswered.
Kaieteur News had also sought prior updates on the matter, but on those occasions the newspaper was told that the President was engaged or the telephone rang out. However, after making contact with other senior GPSU members yesterday, they said that they were “not aware of any action or updates at this time.”
Yarde had told the media that the government is playing games with public servants. He claimed to be even more peeved because President Donald Ramotar had promised to personally see that there would have been no imposed wages on public servants. He said promises were made to have Collective Bargain Agreements prior to the retroactive fees, being made out.
The union had stated, however, that it was prepared to accept eight percent in the interim; while something was being worked out. The government offered only five percent.
During the press conference in December, Yarde was challenged by several media operatives who sought to understand his complaints which seemed endless, but no particular way paved for addressing the dilemma.
Yarde was asked about the union’s effectiveness and was reminded of the many criticisms of the seemingly lax attitude of its leaders to force government to concur to rules and regulations.
The GPSU President had highlighted several reasons to defend his inaction, but stressed on the fact that civil workers were the ones to suffer most when drastic action is taken to address disrespect to collective agreements. The union leader had stated ultimately that the issue facing public servants is a “Guyanese problem”, especially when one seeks to involve the international community for support.
General Secretary of the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees, Kenneth Joseph, in an invited comment had stated that union leaders should accept blame for the weakness in the unions, which he believes are becoming too entangled in the political arena.
“All of us should take the blame for being foolish and for allowing the situation between the government and the union to deteriorate,” Joseph had asserted.
Complaints about poor service and other dissatisfactory experiences at state agencies have been linked to the treatment of public workers.
Kaieteur News had made contact with Public Service Minister, Jennifer Westford, who oversees the public sector. At the time she told the newspaper that she was out of town, but when the paper asked for a comment on the imposed wages she had “no comment at this time.”
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