AFTER two days of protest at City Hall, employees of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) have gained satisfaction after the 5% increase which was demanded was approved last evening by the Mayor and City Council and Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba. 

An emergency meeting dubbed an “Extra-ordinary Meeting” by the M&CC, was yesterday called by Sooba after receiving instructions from the Ministry of Labour to do so.
The meeting was called to resolve the matter where, workers, particularly clerical, professional and technical workers of the M&CC who are aligned with the GLGOU had demanded a 5% increase in mileage, salaries and

allowances.

AGREED TO PAY

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle last evening, Mayor, Hamilton Green stated that “We have agreed to pay the workers of the GLGOU”, but he wished to remind the administration of the M&CC that they should also pay the other category of workers, that is the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), since their request was approved since November 10, 2014.
He further went on to say that the town clerk had been reminded in absentia that she promised to put in writing at the last statutory meeting to state on what basis she has been deducting money from the meagre stipends of council.

PROLONGED 5% INCREASE
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday last, Sooba had stated that the 5% increase was retroactive to January 2013, when discussions and meetings among the committees which include members of the City Council were held to continuously keep up to date with the recommendations by the union.
“The councillors are also asking to have benefits which they are not entitled to, because they are not salaried employees; they have thus far asked for an increase in travelling expenses and duty[allowances].”
She further stated that on December 8, 2014, a meeting was convened to discuss the matter but was suspended for some “frivolous” reason.

REASON FOR SRTIKE
Additionally, she noted that the union had sent out an ultimatum which ended last Friday, contributing to the protest which was mounted on Monday and Tuesday.
Meanwhile, recently during a recent press briefing,the GLGOU President Dale Beresford stated that he is concerned that the Mayor & Councillors have the union “at ransom,” since, according to him, the Mayor has placed a condition on the approval of wages and salaries for local government officers. And the condition is that similar increases will be given to City Councillors.
“While we empathise with the Councillors, as they should and ought to have an increase, these are separate matters; a Collective Labour Agreement exists between the councillors and the GLGOU and there is no such agreement that we are aware of with the councillors,” Beresford said after a press briefing at the Mayor’s Office on Friday.
Beresford informed reporters that the increase of advances, allowances and increases for councillors are subject to approval by the Local Government Minister, according to provisions in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01.
“I want to make it very clear, this 48-hour ultimatum commences today and we will take appropriate industrial action should our demands not be met,” the GLGOU President further said.

EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE
The workers’ strike had closed the city markets and other council locations, making the vendors and stall owners angry and disturbed, because not only is it for some their only source of income, but also because it is one of the busiest seasons of the year which is the Christmas season.
Hence, the approval of the increase has not only brought satisfaction to the workers of the M&CC, but also it has paved the way for the vendors and stall owners to return to their businesses after missing two days of work.

(By Navendra Seoraj)