Govt still reviewing pay hike pact for GPL workers

Feb 14, 2025 News

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…union frustrated, says finance minister had sufficient time to do so

Kaieteur News-In light of the recent protest by workers of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), backed by the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial, and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), GPL management told Kaieteur News on Thursday that Finance Minister Ashni Singh is currently reviewing the agreement on the 7% salary increase and will be implemented soon.

However NAACIE has expressed concerns, arguing that the minister had sufficient time to review the agreement and is taking too long to approve it. According to General Secretary of the NAACIE  Dawchan Naggasar,  protests resumed on Thursday due to GPL management’s failure to follow through on its commitment to contact the union by Thursday morning with an update on the salary increase.

Team Leader of the Management Committee, of GPL, Kesh Nandlall, told Kaieteur News on Thursday afternoon that the Finance Minister is currently reviewing the agreement. “We have to get the approval from the Minster of Public Service, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Public Service, and he is in the process of reviewing and then once he approves it we will implement but it is going to be done soon,” Nandlall said.

However, Naggasar, voiced frustration over the delay, noting that the Finance Minister has had the agreement for three weeks. He told Kaieteur News, “Whenever the minister approves then we have to sign it off and then it could be implemented. So we are asking, when are we signing off the agreement? When is he going to finish checking couple clauses?  That’s the problem, its three weeks now and he has this document and he can’t done it yet,” Naggasar said. Further, when asked if a protest will continue despite minister’s current review of the agreement, he responded stating, “If we don’t have a word by tomorrow ( Friday) we will protest.”

The protests began on Wednesday when GPL workers took to the streets after management failed to provide any answers regarding the delay in the approval of the salary increase. The initial protest, led by Naggasar, took place at GPL’s Sophia, Georgetown branch. The protest, which was set to continue to the GPL headquarters on Main Street, Georgetown, was put on hold after GPL management contacted Naggasar, assuring the union they would provide an update on the agreement by Thursday morning.

However, as of Thursday midday, Naggasar informed Kaieteur News that no communication had been made with him or any other union members. As a result, workers resumed their protest despite the rainy weather. “GPL management has not given us a definite answer as yet, so the protest continues today (Thursday),” Naggasar stated.

Later, Naggasar told this publication that he reached out to Deputy Chief Executive Officer Renford Homer for an update. “ I spoke with the management around midday  and they told me that they are still waiting on the Finance Minister to give an approval to set a date.”

The protests continued at the Sophia Branch and the GPL commercial office in Corriverton, Berbice.

The issue dates back to June 28, 2024, when NAACIE submitted a proposal to GPL for increases in wages and salary and other benefits. The first meeting took place on September 27, 2024. “GPL inform the negotiation team that in terms of across-the-board increases, they will have to wait for the pronouncement of the Stakeholder, and we continued to discuss the other benefits.” NACCIE said in a statement last year.

On December 10, 2024, President Irfaan Ali announced an agreement between the government and the Public Service Union for an across-the-board increase of 10% for 2024 and 8% for 2025 with additional increases/movements in salary scales which will bring the total average increases on salary to 26% and increases in other benefits.

NAACIE clarified that their agreement with GPL includes three parts: (a) a 3% annual automatic scale increment paid every January, (b) an annual performance incentive (a one-time payment), and (c) an across-the-board increase. However, workers were dismayed by GPL’s initial offer of 7% increase, which they rejected. They argued that the 3% automatic increment is an in-scale increase, and not all employees qualify for it. Additionally, the performance incentive does not add to their salaries, leaving workers dissatisfied with the company’s response. The union demanded the 10% across-the-board increase that was agreed upon by the stakeholders, but GPL refused. However, the union met again with the company in January and agreed to the 7% increase. The workers are now awaiting Minister Singh to see the proposal agreement then give GPL the go ahead to sign.

(Govt still reviewing pay hike pact for GPL workers)

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• Finance Minister Ashni Singh, General Secretary, Guyana Power and Light Inc., NAACIE

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