Govt. asks workers to be patient as the ‘Good Life’ beckons

May 02, 2017 News

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Recognising the struggles being faced by Guyanese, the government is asking the nation’s workers to stand firm and be patient for the “good life” which is to come. This was the message by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

who delivered remarks on behalf of President David Granger at the Labour Day rally in the National Park yesterday.
Trotman’s urging countered the presentation by People’s Progressive Party Civic Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira who spoke before him representing the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo.
Teixeira had highlighted a number of issues which her party believes negatively affect the Guyanese working class and in so doing, painted somewhat of a ‘doom and gloom’ picture of Guyana.
According to Trotman, the discomfort which Guyanese feel today will give way to pleasure tomorrow. The Minister, who is also the leader of the Alliance for Change arm of the coalition government, said that this year men and women who constitute all spheres of life are celebrated.
He admitted that some of the relationships which exist are not in a perfectly healthy place and that there is unease even with some of government’s policies and programmes.
“I assure you that the discomfort we feel today will give way to pleasure tomorrow. To prepare us for the transition into a green state and to prepare for the windfall that is soon to come from petroleum revenues, it is important that we bring some fiscal alignment and fiscal discipline to our spending, and to our relationships with each other.”
Trotman explained that his government is not oblivious to the struggles being faced by Guyanese and neither is it uncaring and unresponsive to the needs of the citizenry.
“We ask for time and we ask for your engagement.”
He said that the world is changing at an alarming pace and that businesses are exploring new ways of conducting their affairs.
“Employers are engaged in research and experiments on how to cut cost, eliminate waste and thereby become more efficient. Governments and trade unions must do the same. In fact increased productivity which translates into Cutting Edge Performance has become a central focus of industry and government these days.”
The Minister said that if the trade union movement fails to adapt to these changes that will result in Guyana being out of synchronicity with reality. Trade unions must be prepared to pursue a paradigm shift in which reasonableness, consensus and co-operation prevail over antagonism, conflict, rejections and bad faith bargaining, said Trotman.
“I say these things at the risk of being accused of being anti-union, but let me hasten to say that despite the murmurings of a few, it is undeniable that this Government is pro-union and wants only what is best for the national good and the workers. Unions too must see the bigger picture and support the thrust for the greater good for the greater number and not cling to anachronistic ideas and notions that are evidently failing.”
Trotman encouraged the Unions represented to participate in nation building since they do not have a passive nor superficial role to play but rather a strategic and integral one.
He asked them to make themselves available for nation-building in a collaborative manner. The Minister said that his administration is on the eve of the second anniversary of being in office, and explained that his government is pleased that it was able to fulfil many of its 2015 campaign promises.
“For example, we have restored collective bargaining which had been relegated to the doldrums for more than two decades, and even though enough gains have not been secured, through that medium we can say that we are off on a grand start.
I am sure that many of you can recall that when we took office, the minimum wage in the public service was $42,703 but through the negotiation process and government’s own initiative, the Public Service minimum rate of pay now stands at $55,000 per month representing an increase of almost 30%.”
Further, he said that there was a similar significant increase to the minimum wage for the non-unionized private sector employees. He relayed that this class of workers enjoyed an increase of 26 per cent which is the highest ever in the history of Guyana. He said that these workers are now being paid a minimum of $255 per hour.
Not stopping there, Trotman noted that Senior Citizens Pension was increased by almost 45 per cent taking the amount to $19,000 per month.
Meanwhile, the Minister told the gathering of hundreds of public sector employees that his government is cognizant of the fact that these increases are not fully adequate to satisfy their needs. However, he assured the workers that the government is doing the best it can under the present circumstances.
Trotman congratulated both the Guyana Trades Union Congress and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana for having a joint rally for the second consecutive time after years of separation. He said that trade unions remain a main stakeholder in all programmes and initiatives undertaken by the government.
Ultimately, he noted that it is time all stakeholders and social partners, including unions, come together within and amongst themselves with the government, in a collaborative effort to build Guyana.

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