Negotiating for adequate remuneration for staff in public institutions

Jan 26, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The recognized Trade Unions in Public Institutions such as the University of Guyana, the Public Service, and the Teaching Service Commission, seem to be accepting the crumbs falling from the masters’ table. This has been their experience for several years.
They are not acting and working in the fair and just interests of their members as they are obligated and required to do under the Trade Union Recognition Act. The Unions in these public intuitions are to negotiate to finality and if necessary, resort to the arbitration process for finality.
They are neglecting their core duty and mandate under the law and the Unions’ constitutions. They are missing a golden opportunity to base their negotiations on the realistic remuneration levels set by the 2015 incoming APNU-AFC Government.
This must be the trade unions’ negotiations reference point in their negotiating encounters with the public employers.
The nation noted that within weeks after assuming office in May 2015, the APNU – AFC Government set an admirable example in recognizing the inadequate remuneration for political public servants and awarded some 50% salary increases and enhanced allowances to Ministers and others in the Executive Government and Members of the National Assembly.
It seems as if it is self-first or self-interest by the governing authorities, as these increases were not negotiated by the Trade Unions for their members or conceded by Government on the comparative and fair basis, taking into account the relationship of remuneration between the political public servant and civil public servants.
This is particularly related to the Public Service, University of Guyana, other teaching services, and the Bertrand Collins College for Public Administration, not to mention the remuneration of the political appointed advisers in the government.
The comparison of the remuneration to politicians and political appointees must be made by the Trade Unions in their negotiations, if there are any negotiations in good faith, notwithstanding what appears to be the deep slumber of trade union leaders, who are more obedient to politicians than their sacred duty to represent the collective and individual interests of their members.
The reference points for remuneration at the University of Guyana must be related to the remuneration of the Vice Chancellor, and his “Cabinet” at the University, and the Bertrand Collins College for public servants.
What is the level of production and productivity in these public service institutions? What is the profitability of these in dollars to the economy in comparison to GUYSUCO in a fair and objective evaluation of these agencies – their cost in terms of taxpayers’ dollars?
Compare GUYSUCO’s contribution to the national treasury in foreign currency, contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), public infrastructure works, medical services, and the tens in Demerara and Berbice, and the communities around sugar estates?
How can the internationally declared statement to Heads of Government in Africa by President David Granger that PEOPLE FIRST, BEFORE PROFITS be interpreted, in relation to the treatment of workers in the sugar industry.
Why is the same approach taken in the sugar industry to substantially reduce workers in the sugar industry, NOT taken in relation to the over staffing in the public service, Georgetown Municipality and other public agencies, and the unnecessary number of Vice-Presidents, Ministers and political advisers? Is it the politics of race and power that continue to bedevil our country?
A 50% increase across the board and consequential increases, and a system to reflect improved wages and salary administration in the public institutions must be established.
There is also the need for a forensic human resource audit to determine the optimum staff strength for every unit in public administration to counter the wide-spread perception of overstaffing and padding in public institutions particularly the Public Service, the Georgetown Municipality, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS); and the University of Guyana where many are employed as part time and fulltime staff holding other jobs, and teach most of the classes at UG in the late afternoon/evening thus denying a full time day classes.
The trade unions representing employees in the Public Service, University of Guyana, the Teaching Service and other public agencies, are challenged to re-open negotiations with a minimum of 50% increase across the board with appropriate adjustments to correct any anomalies and retroactive to June 2015 when the politicians were handsomely rewarded, and motivated to sing lustily for their supper at every opportunity or contrived opportunity. This would be keeping with standards set by the government for political public officers.
Our trades Unions can do better than the government’s negotiators of inexperienced ministers, who claim to be big time negotiators who accepted and sign a deal that gives crumbs falling from XXON Mobil’s table to this nation. Shame at the Government’s secret negotiators who gave away, cheaply, our natural resources for exploitation; and consequently the exploitation of our country and people.
With thanks,
Joshua Singh

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