THE non-payment of hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes, by Georgetown property owners, led some 600 employees of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), who have not been paid for August, to threaten industrial action from yesterday. However, the work stoppage, sanctioned by the Guyana Labour Union GLU), did not take place after Chief Labour Officer Yogenand Persaud reminded that going on strike without giving management at least three days notice would be illegal.
Meanwhile, the municipality was able to effect payment to all on its weekly payroll, disclosed Mayor Hamilton Green, who addressed a special press conference at City Hall yesterday.
Persaud’s intervention took place at a 10:00 h meeting he convened involving Green, as well as GLA General Secretary Carvil Duncan.
Later Green reported that a number of brush cutters had mysteriously disappeared and blamed it on sabotage.
The Mayor said he received a letter from the GLU on Tuesday, indicating that it had proposed to take its members off the job from yesterday because they were not going to receive their wages and salaries for August until September 7.
He said he felt very sad and sorry for the workers, particularly at a time when school is reopening.
However, those who have not yet received their emoluments would be in receipt between September 3 and 9, Green stated.
Noting that the M&CC is still facing financial difficulties, the Chief Citizen reiterated his call to all property owners, including Government which is one of the largest, to honour their obligations, as City Hall relies, almost entirely, on the revenue collection to take care of its expenses.
The M&CC has scheduled another meeting with the GLU for September 10.
For several weeks Georgetown has been faced with severe garbage pile-up since the City Council is unable to pay contractors to collect garbage even though it is part of its core responsibilities.
The Council pays $75M in wages and salaries per month and yet evidence of work being done in the City is unseen.