The GPSU is very concerned for all workers, more so Public Servants

Jan 14, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – I write on the issues raised in Kaieteur News of January 5, 2022 by Mr. Seepaul Narine, President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU). In his letter to you, he took umbrage to the disclosure in the New Year message of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) that Governments have invested recklessly into the unprofitable GUYSUCO giving at least 48,457 billion dollars, as subsidies and contributions, since 2015.
This was against the backdrop that the plight of Public Servants seemed to have escaped the very decision makers, when they were not considered for any increases in wages, salaries and allowances for 2020 and at the end of 2021, a miniscule taxable seven percent (7%) was arbitrarily foisted upon them, in conflict with the Labour Laws of Guyana. The expression of fact apparently consumed this Trade Unionist and ardent politician, who was duty bound to clarify Governments’ position, because of the unholy alliance through which his Trade Union would benefit from the retention of membership if GUYSUCO’s present structure is maintained and if the closed estates were to be reactivated. Certainly, one could not avoid noting his placid acceptance of the announced pay imposition in the Guyana Chronicle of November 19, 2021.
Now, Editor I do not remember Mr. Narine and/or his Union questioning Government’s intention or giving any support to the GPSU, when the PPP/C Government in the year 2000 engaged in Union bashing, by suspending the check-offs and deregistering the membership of GPSU and most recently ignoring Article 147(3) of the Constitution, the Trade Union Recognition Act of 1997, ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 151 approved by Parliament and are in force, together with the existing Agreement for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes, while imposing the 7% across the board award. However, he seeks to lecture from a standpoint of comradery to the extent that “we should be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper…”
The closure of GUYSUCO was never advocated or imputed in the GPSU New Year message, but it certainly questioned Government’s zest to pump hard earned taxpayers’ dollars into the ailing industry, while being seemingly oblivious to the plight of “the employed poor.” In my humble opinion, GUYSUCO could be diversified and its workers retooled to ensure the industry is brought back to profitability, without the senseless injection of taxpayers’ dollars, given the loans and grants, which it has received towards this end, including the 30-billion-dollar line of credit that was guaranteed by Government in the year 2019 and of which the GPSU is well aware.
The GPSU may well be ignorant of the needs of the sugar sector, but is very concerned for all workers, more so Public Servants, who are suffering daily for the want of a living wage, better standards of living and the ability to provide comfort and happiness for their families.

Yours sincerely,
Indira Thakurdin
Guyana Public Service Union

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