‘Oil wealth not reaching workers’ …Yarde declares as GPSU marks 103 years

Jun 09, 2026 News

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…renews fight for living wage, job security

(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), as it marked its 103rd Anniversary on Monday, issued a strong call for greater fairness for public servants, arguing that Guyana’s unprecedented economic growth has failed to translate into improved living conditions for many workers.

In a message commemorating the Union’s 103 years of existence, GPSU President Patrick Yarde said that while the organisation has achieved significant victories over the decades, particularly through the courts, the need for legal intervention reflects a deeper problem in labour relations. “Having to go to court is a symptom, not a victory,” Yarde stated. “It reflects a recurring pattern where governments have ignored the foundational covenant between political leaders and the people—a covenant built on trust, cooperation and mutual responsibility.”

Founded more than a century ago, the GPSU remains one of Guyana’s oldest social institutions and has long served as the principal representative body for public servants. Yarde said the Union’s history has been defined by its pursuit of dignity, fairness and social justice for workers.

However, he noted that despite Guyana being among the fastest-growing economies in Latin America and the Caribbean due to oil and gas revenues, many public servants continue to struggle financially.

“We celebrate our progress, but we cannot ignore the harsh reality,” he said.

According to Yarde, rising prices for basic goods, increasing living expenses and wages that fail to adequately meet every day needs have created a situation where national prosperity coexists with financial hardship for workers.

“The paradox is undeniable, national prosperity exists alongside the daily struggles of the very people who keep our nation running,” he said.

Contract Employment

The GPSU President also raised concerns about what he described as the increasing replacement of permanent public service positions with contract employment.

He warned that jobs which traditionally provided security, pension benefits and opportunities for career advancement are increasingly being converted into temporary arrangements that leave workers vulnerable.

“This shift undermines the stability of the public service and weakens the very foundation of collective representation,” Yarde said.

He pledged that the Union would continue to challenge such practices and defend the principle that public service employment should remain secure, fair and sustainable.

Beyond traditional labour concerns, Yarde identified technological change and the rise of artificial intelligence as emerging challenges that will reshape the future of work.

Technology

He said the GPSU must not only continue fighting for fair wages and job security but also help prepare workers to adapt to workplaces increasingly influenced by technology.

“Tomorrow’s workforce will look different,” he said, noting that tasks once performed by employees are increasingly being undertaken by machines and algorithms.

In his anniversary message, Yarde also highlighted several agreements that have historically strengthened the collective bargaining relationship between the Government of Guyana and the GPSU.

Among these are the check-off agreement for union dues and agency fees, arrangements governing the distribution of circulars to recognised trade unions and staff associations, provisions for the secondment of public servants to recognised unions without loss of service or promotional opportunities, and agreements relating to the avoidance and settlement of disputes involving wages, salaries and allowances.

Yarde further pointed to constitutional protections afforded to public servants under Article 38G of the Constitution, which guarantees the integrity of the public service and its freedom from political influence.

The constitutional provision safeguards public officers from being required to execute irregular acts, protects their freedom to perform their duties and responsibilities, and ensures due process before sanctions can be imposed.

The GPSU President also referenced a number of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions ratified by Guyana, including those dealing with freedom of association, collective bargaining, equal remuneration, labour relations in the public service and occupational safety and health.

According to Yarde, these legal protections and international commitments have provided the foundation for the Union’s advocacy over the years, despite what he described as political resistance to bilateral negotiations and attempts at union busting.

Wage Negotiations

Among the Union’s most recent achievements, he highlighted a court order compelling the Government to engage in meaningful negotiations regarding wages, salaries and allowances.

Yarde said the issue of wage negotiations had effectively been sidelined by successive governments for more than two decades.

The return to negotiations, he noted, would provide an opportunity for the Union to continue advancing its longstanding call for the payment of a living wage to public servants.

The GPSU President also expressed disappointment over what he described as a longstanding failure by public service employers to provide adequate recreational facilities for workers.

He argued that such facilities are important to employees’ wellbeing and mental health and noted that similar provisions exist for members of the disciplined services.

“Public servants are human beings and these facilities are necessary and important for their continued well-being and mental health,” he stated.

Yarde said the Union hopes that this deficiency will be addressed in the near future.

Reflecting on the organisation’s history, he said the GPSU’s commitment to its motto, “Justice for the Public Employee,” has remained unwavering throughout its 103 years.

He noted that the sacrifices and struggles of previous generations of workers have produced gains that continue to benefit public servants today.

That struggle, he said, will continue until poverty is alleviated within the ranks of public workers and working conditions reach acceptable international standards.

Improve Lives of Public Servants

Yarde also appealed to Guyana’s political leadership to recognise the challenges facing workers and use their authority to improve their lives in a fair and genuine manner.

At the same time, he urged public servants to continue providing quality service to the nation.

“As the largest employed group, we must continue to set an example and not be identified with bringing suffering to the nation that we are legally mandated to serve,” he said.

Extending anniversary greetings to members, allies and supporters, Yarde described the Union’s 103rd anniversary as a testament to its enduring dedication to the rights, dignity and advancement of public servants across Guyana.

He concluded by expressing hope that the strong foundation built by generations of union leaders and members will continue to sustain the organisation in the years ahead.

“Long live the Guyana Public Service Union,” the GPSU President declared.

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• GPSU, job security, living wage, oil wealth

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