Dr Luncheon: Georgetown municipal strike was ‘somewhat of a surprise’
Dr. Roger Luncheon
Dr. Roger Luncheon

HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon at his post-Cabinet press briefing stated that the onset of industrial action in the Georgetown municipality was essentially somewhat of a surprise to the Cabinet, and presumably to many of the citizens of Georgetown and rate-payers.

These persons became aggrieved as they were affected by the consequences of the industrial action that primarily led to the closure of the municipal markets.
He said that Cabinet was given an extensive report on the onset of the industrial action in the Georgetown municipality. He said that Cabinet viewed primarily the uniqueness of the resort to industrial action at the end of 2014, given that the year has seen minimum industrial action, whether in the public or private sector.
Dr. Luncheon said that by the close of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, it seemed that saner heads were prevailing and the basis for the industrial action was being reviewed by the City Council, the union and officials of the Ministry of Labour.
He noted that it was fortunate that concessions were made for vendors with perishable goods, to salvage their goods and the opening of all municipal markets on Wednesday reflected the cessation of all industrial action.
The Head of the Presidential Secretariat said that the resort to industrial action, whether in the private or public sector, in the last part of 2014 has been a bit of rarity.
He observed that strikes have not been easily resorted to by the different factions involved in grievances and to that extent a strike in the municipality by workers is a bit of a consternation.
He said that the strike resulted from the councillors seeking to link their demands for improved benefits as councillors with the local government officers’ request for the five percent increase that had been provided by the Guyana Labour Union organised workers.
The council was initially adamant so the officers proceeded on strike. Dr. Luncheon said that the Ministry of Local Government has since advised that the council has retreated and agreed that its demand should not be linked and should be dealt with separately and to grant the five percent increases to the local government officers and they have in turn withdrawn from industrial action and reopened the municipal markets.
Municipal workers in the city proceeded on strike on Monday closing all markets and other municipal facilities in the city, including its daycare facility. Vendors and citizens who tried to use these facilities were turned away as a result of the action.

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