The GPSU is a tiger that has lost both teeth and stripes

Jan 15, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
I pen this letter with grave concern and hope that the relevant authorities will pay attention and take the necessary actions.
Over the last seventeen years, the Executive of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has been operating like tigers that have lost both teeth and stripes.
My current frustration is with the state of affairs of the wages and salaries negotiations with the Government of Guyana.
It is important to note that the last significant increase in wages and salaries happened in 2000 after a fifty-seven-days strike by Public Servants. This action had resulted in Public Servants receiving increases between 26% and 31%. The GPSU can boast of no such significant achievement since.
Under the previous Administration, wages and salaries were imposed upon Public Servants which effectively made the negotiation and collective bargaining processes irrelevant. This practice seems to be continuing under the new Administration.
The Union’s Executive has not been able to broker an agreement with the Government and seems uninterested in taking the matter to conciliation. In fact, the Union’s very predictable response to the imposition is either a press conference or a press statement.
It is my belief that the President of the Union and his Executive have conflicting interests. The general perception among Union Members is that the President, Mr. Patrick Yarde has outlived his usefulness.
The irony of the matter is that although the Union has been failing to adequately and effectively represent the interests of its members, it continually increases union dues.
What is also infuriating is that the GPSU has among the highest, if not the highest, dues even though its representation deserves a failing grade.
The Union needs to be clear on its stance as it relates to the imposed wages and salaries or its members will conclude that by increasing dues, the Union has accepted the Government’s offer.
Duane Marshall
Concerned member

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