The public service in any country undoubtedly plays a crucial and pivotal role in its developmental process and how efficient and effective it functions to a large extent determines the rate of development because it is the life blood of government and its agencies.

President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) recently noted: “Public servants keep the wheels of government turning, they keep the country running.”

The relationship therefore between governments and public servants/bargaining agents should be a healthy one because this is essential for the smooth running of government.

Unfortunately in Guyana, historically the GPSU adopted a confrontational and antagonistic stance to governments led by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

In fact, the union played a major role during the strikes of the 1960s called by the TUC in collaboration with foreign forces including the CIA to remove the elected government.

A statement made by the then Premier Dr. Cheddi Jagan of “not a cent more” was twisted out of context and used as a platform to lash out against the government.

What Dr. Jagan meant was he was not in favour of giving an increase in salary to those public servants that were already enjoying high salaries and not all public servants. However, those who were bent on removing the government created the impression that the government did not intend to pay salary increases to any public servant.

From those days the GPSU has not changed its attitude to PPP governments very much. Ironically, during the long PNC reign in government all manner of harassment were meted to public servants including wage freezes; using them as scabs to break sugar workers strikes, forcing them to attend PNC rallies and other functions of the ruling party to build numbers. But the union never protested or took to the streets for those violations of the rights of its membership. Instead it remained silent, except for the period when George Daniels was president of the union. In fact, under his tenure the union became a member of the then FITUG group of unions.

As a result of his militancy George Daniels eventually was forced to flee Guyana because of threats to his life by the then ruling party

Nevertheless, the tone of the 18th Biennial Delegates’ Conference of the GPSU was one which gave the impression that the union is willing to shelve the confrontational/antagonistic approach to one of more partnership which should be the preferred route. The former approach hardly ever brings positive results and is counterproductive leaving much bitterness in society.

The reception hosted at State House by President Jagdeo therefore was probably aimed at demonstrating the government’s willingness to develop a more cordial relationship with the union.

Touching on the above this what Mr. Yarde had to say: “We interpret this gesture as an acknowledgement of the invaluable contribution and support public servants give every day to the government. Further, we recognise this as an illustration of how much can be achieved if the GPSU can be treated and interact with government as a social partner,”

He correctly noted too that this can only be achieved when both parties trust each other and then public servants will be willing to work, galvanise and mobilise their energies, experiences and skills to promote Guyana’s development.

“This is how we interpret the government’s gesture and we hope that this marks the beginning of an era of genuine practical cooperation and collaboration in which no side loses sight of the need for improvement in the conditions of public servants generally, and for the sustained development of a vital economy without which our demands cannot be met,” Yarde declared.

If this is the route the union intends to take then the government should seize the opportunity to mend fences and begin a new era in its relations and develop a win-win situation which will be of great benefit not only to public servants but the entire country as a well.

On this note Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon made some very instructive remarks: “We cannot pander to old dogmas, but have to go the extra mile and be innovative and work together to find acceptable solutions to the emerging challenges. We all have a role to play, this role has to be played together, in concert, and the objective is national development.”