AS the strike at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) completes its third week of existence, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Mr. Patrick Yarde, is optimistic that a resolution will be reached soon, once a responsible and objective approach is taken by the management and Board of GGMC.Yarde said, “We have no desire or reason to prolong this strike other than what was recommended is done to resolve the anomalies that led to the strike in the first place.”

The Chronicle has been advised that while no meeting has been scheduled between the two sides, talks are ongoing to find a way to end the impasse.

The GPSU president has questioned the credibility of the Chief Labour Officer (CLO) following his sending to the union a letter labelling the strike illegal. The letter claims that negotiations which resulted in the signing of the Terms of Resumption following the strike in November 2014 represented a move to conciliation so there was no need to go that way again.

The CLO has so far refused to comment on the ongoing dispute.

Yesterday, representatives of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO), the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Guyana Workers Union (GWU) joined in solidarity with the employees of the GGMC as they continued to picket in front of the Brickdam Office.