WHILE expressing that it will, for the while, accept Government’s eight per cent increase in wages and salaries for public servants, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has given the Government 48 hours to negotiate “until further action.”

Reporters were yesterday briefed by GPSU’s President Patrick Yarde at the union’s headquarters on Regent Road & Shiv. Chanderpaul Drive, where he maintained that Government has an obligation to heed international laws, particularly those of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“The arbitrary imposition of five to eight per cent is an insult, and is rejected by this Union,” Yarde said as he boldly expressed the GPSU’s discontent with Government’s decision not to consult with the trade union body which represents nearly 20,000 public servants.

This statement comes on the heels of a recent announcement emanating from the Office of the President regarding increases of either five or eight per cent in public servants’ wages and salaries, depending on their placement on the salary scale.

“We have advised, however, that we are prepared to accept the eight percent aspect payable to all public servant workers as an interim payment,” Yarde said as he insisted that “within 48 hours, the Government officials and the Union [should] meet to commence negotiations to conclude this matter of wages, salaries and allowances for 2014.”

In previous years, salary increases for public servants were unilaterally determined by Government, without consultation with the union. A five percent salary increase would normally be granted.

Increases of five percent were granted in 2010, and 2012. An eight percent increase had, however, been given in 2011. No increase was provided in the 2014 budget, but earlier this year, President Ramotar had explained that he preferred to have a negotiated settlement on wage and salary increases with the unions.

The President has said: “I would like to see them sit down at the negotiating table and come up with an agreement on wages this year.”

Then Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford, had, in her address to the National Assembly, said: “To say that there is no salary increases for public servants is inaccurate and misleading. The fact is that the quantum of monies to be paid to public servants will originate from the collective bargaining process between [the] PSM [Public Service Ministry] and [the] GPSU [Guyana Public Service Union].”

The Union is appealing to President Donald Ramotar to act on his promises. This position was expressed in a detailed letter to the President dated December 1, 2014, wherein the Union has expressed “utter disbelief in the announcement.”

The 12-paragraph letter states at the 11th paragraph, “Unless you are prepared to honour your commitments and take action to reverse this travesty, you will leave us no choice but to stand in defense of our rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Guyana, as well as international treaties to which the Government of Guyana is obligated.”

In a recent news conference, GPSU’s First Vice President Mortimer Livan had hinted that the Union would possibly take international action against the Government by seeking the intervention of the European Union in Guyana and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Asked whether the union would consider other avenues if strike action is effective, Yarde responded that the issue is a local one and ought to be handled by Guyanese themselves, rather than seeking international assistance.

(Derwayne Wills)