PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds, performing the duties of the Office of President, yesterday, declared open the 20th Biennial Conference of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

It will continue on September 26 and 27 under the theme: “Relentlessly Pursuing Good Governance, Decent Work, Social and Economic Justice,” at the GPSU Headquarters, Regent Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.
The highest decision-making forum of the union will see delegates from Georgetown and the 10 administrative regions of Guyana reviewing the past biennium, as well as planning and making recommendations for the next two years.
Delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony in the National Cultural Centre (NCC), Homestretch Avenue, also in the city, Mr. Hinds acknowledged that unions have, traditionally, been the institutions in which workers have banded themselves together in the struggle against employers in the pursuit of better wages and conditions of work.
Alluding to the relationship between the GPSU and the Government, as an employer, he said this struggling between workers and employers could be avoided when persons become aware that they are all in a common venture to gain a better life and a good living.
He added that the stage would also be set for them to become partners in a common pursuit, when persons recognise that there are no goods and services other than those which they produce.
According to Hinds, the GPSU and the Government, as an employer, face a greater challenge than other unions and their employers in the society at large.
Special situation
He noted that, historically, the relations between union and employer seem, inevitably, to tend towards being a tie of contradiction and even antagonism and having the Government as an employer is a special situation.
This, he posited, is  a result of the delicate task of keeping its industrial fight against its employer (the Government) separate and distinct from any other difficulty with Government which may be construed as political in nature.
Hinds asserted that the Government is also in a similarly delicate position when its industrial actions, as an employer, inevitably, face scrutiny as political acts of Government and as a Government and a public service union, they both face the situation of having their decisions questioned not only by each other and their members, but also by the general public.
Referring to the engagement between workers and employers in the pursuit of better pay and working conditions, the prime minister remarked  that this is, at the same time, a push for greater equality, narrowing of income spreads and redistribution.
He said the quest for better wages and conditions of work has been satisfied through improving production and productivity, efficiency and effectiveness.
Hinds stated that the country is moving from where it was initially when  the number of Government employees and rates of pay in the 1980s was put under great pressure. Today, things are better for all of them and the external pressures have been eased.
He emphasised the importance of the recognition and the respect for the need for fiscal discipline and macro-economic stability and, in this regard, he called on public servants to be patient and continue to work hard.
Hinds declared that Guyana has made great improvements over the last 20 years and, with patience, the future would be even better than it is today.
He said growth and development are what they work for, as the nature of those brings changes which are, often, disturbing and disruptive and that is a problem that the Government recognises.
He said the Government will maintain that many of its programmes, such as its taxation system, are arranged to address issues of unevenness in income.
Would extol
This conference is being held even as the GPSU celebrates its 90th anniversary and Hinds congratulated the organisation on achieving this milestone, while noting that there is much in its activities through its 90-year history that the Government would extol.
He extended greetings and congratulations from President Donald Ramotar who is presently attending the Annual General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in New York, United States (U.S.).
Also delivering remarks on the occasion, GPSU President, Mr. Patrick Yarde said that the relevance of the theme for the conference is reflected in the developments that have taken place globally and, more so locally, over the past decade, which most of the members have painfully experienced.
“These sufferings and sacrifices could have been avoided had there been people-oriented leadership and the recognition that we are all citizens and should be treated equally and fairly,” he asserted.
Yarde said, in these circumstances, a moral and patriotic approach would have led to the observance of natural justice, due process, respect for human and civil rights, equitable distribution and even-handed treatment at all times.
He claimed they live in an era and an environment in which the inter-relationship with governance and employment relations, social and economic development are, consistently, being reshaped and refashioned by many factors.
Corrupt dealings
“For example, professionalism, fairness and justice are replaced by corrupt dealings that are the root causes of the decay in society, poverty, malnutrition, discrimination, unfulfilled dreams, misery, crime and the exodus of most of our highly qualified and skilled workforce, who are critical to the developmental process,” Yarde charged.
He said they have, repeatedly, witnessed such imposing social, economic and technological changes in such a short space of time, coupled with a policy and practice of exclusion of certain stakeholders, whose involvement is critical.
Therefore, he lamented that the union has been compelled to, constantly review its strategies and initiate reforms in order to better respond to ongoing challenges.
“Members present here today must be aware of the constant challenges that we face as a union and as individual members, in the world of work and/or the working environment in Guyana,” he maintained.
Yarde took the opportunity to applaud and express gratitude to those members of the Government, who, genuinely, felt the need to build rapprochement with the union and, in recognition of their efforts, support it whenever possible.
“I want to believe that their posture is a manifestation of their belief that trade unions are stakeholders that have an invaluable role to play in shaping the country’s workforce, generally,” he said.
Yarde added it also signals a commitment and awareness of the merits of GPSU’s representation of its own members in pursuit of their rights, improved working conditions and social and economic justice, as well as the union’s invaluable contributions to national development.
He tendered his gratitude to all the members of the union and acknowledged the continued support of the elders even though they have retired from the Public Service.
“To the staff of the Guyana Public Service Union, I recognise your contribution and dedicated service in the cause of proper representation for fellow members in this demanding work environment,” Yarde offered.
He spoke about the areas of concern to the union, which include good governance, decent work, contract employment, the Pensions Act and social and economic justice.
The programme also saw the presentation of prizes for the GPSU’s 90th Anniversary Domino Competition.
Among those present were Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul; Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David Granger; A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) shadow Labour Minister, Mr. Basil Williams and Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green.