RETIREES of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) -– many of whom had previously been employed by the state-owned Guyana Telecommunications Corporation (GTC) — picketed the Finance Ministry yesterday agitating for lump sum payments owed them when the former GTC became privatised.The retirees’ were protesting the receipt of only monthly minimum pensions of Gy$18,000, which is drastically lower than the last salaries they were receiving while employed.
As they stood outside the Finance Ministry in protest, the pensioners’ placards bore several slogans, which included: ‘GTC pensioners want their right pensions and benefits now, not after we die’; ‘GuySuCo workers strike, they get paid. GTT/GTC complete their tasks, where is their rightful pension? Pay them now’; ‘How many more of us GTC pensioners must die without receiving our GTC pension benefits? We need it now’.
But the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (GPTWU) has indicated willingness to forgo retroactive lump sums owed its members and settle for pensions far higher than the Gy$18,000 currently being paid them.
GPTWU President Harold Shepherd disclosed in a statement, that correspondence in this regard has been sent to President Donald Ramotar. He added that correspondence had also been sent to former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during his tenure in office, and also to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh.
Shepherd disclosed that non-resolution of this issue would force the union and the retired employees to take legal action as an alternative, with expectation to get the matter expedited.