The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has expressed its disappointment in the Government over the “hold-up” of talks in relation to wage and salary increases.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, GPSU President, Patrick Yarde pointed out that while the Union recognised the importance of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Public Service Sector, it saw no need for the impending report to stall other urgent matters such as wage and salary negotiations.
“We say this, since at another level, there is also the vexed issue of the wages, salaries and allowances levels of Public Servants, a matter that has reached proportions of crisis, and one which on purely humanitarian grounds, simply cannot any longer be set aside, even for the briefest period,” he stated.
In fact, Yarde outlined that there was nothing contained in the Terms of References (ToRs), which guide the inquiry that stated negotiations on wages, salaries and allowances should be put on hold.
He went on to say that the GPSU was clear in its collective mind that the sense of emergency associated with the question of wages, salaries and allowances meant that it must be addressed with the immediacy that it deserved.
Moreover, the Union raised concerns about a recent statement by Finance Minister Winston Jordan who, it claimed, said he was personally not disposed to granting negotiating space to the Union in the process of what was expected to be fair and open negotiations with the Government of Guyana in the shortest possible time.
“We believe that the signal sent by the Minister of Finance is clear and that it represents an attempt to compromise the imminent negotiations. The GPSU cannot be expected to negotiate freely in an environment that is compromised even before the talks begin,” Yarde remarked.
In this regard, the GPSU President called on the David Granger-led Administration to clearly and immediately pronounce on its readiness to commence negotiations with the Union to arrive at meaningful increases in public servants’ wages, salaries and allowances. (Guyana Times)
is Mr Patrick Yarde will get 50% for his workers from this government that he put in power
When the PPP was the government of the day,Yarde was ASLEEP during that period,but has suddenly come alive since this Coalition won the elections and is the NEW government,which not only acknowledges union representation,but subventions as well.I believe,this joker should await the COI`s report ,to arrive at a decision that must satisfy all concerned.BE SMART,BE WISE,DON`T JEOPARDIZE.