By Rabindra Rooplall

SENIOR and junior staff members of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) are yet to receive the 5 per cent salary increase announced in the 2015 Budget, and they view this as a worrying development, according to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).At a press conference at its Regent Street Headquarters on Monday, the GPSU said this issue comes on the heels of public servants who make less than $500,000 a year having an expectation to receive a $50,000 tax-free bonus at the end of this year.

“The union’s position is that this should be added to the workers’ salary for the year 2015, and the union is representing (a position) that the money should be added to the workers’ current salaries and not be paid as a one-off payment, as management feels should happen,” First Vice President of the GPSU, Mr Mortimer Livan, declared.

“As it relates to increases in meals’ allowances, the union proposes that employees be paid $1,500 instead of $1,000,” Livan said, adding: “A meal allowance must be able to purchase refreshments plus a meal.”

“Travel allowance is also inadequate for employees who use their vehicles to execute their duties,” Mr Livan said. “The union wishes to emphasize the pivotal and critical role played by employees of GPL, and the need for urgent attention to be given to remuneration.”

The union is also claiming that management of the utility company is “procrastinating in dealing with a multi-year agreement first submitted (to it) in 2013.” This delay is now particularly troubling to the union, as the period for the 2013/2015 agreement comes to an end in a few weeks’ time without the parties involved having completed negotiations.

Livan added: “A change of attitude was expected with a change in government, but instead, the same old behaviour patterns prevail.”

In a November 11, 2015 letter sent to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who has oversight of GPL, the GPSU stated: “…employees have not benefited from any increase in remuneration nor from the interim payment made to public sector employees of five per cent and $5000, as approved in the National Budget of 2015.”

Divisional Director and Human Resources Manager of GPL, Bal Persaud, had, on November 23, sent a letter to GPSU proposing a salary increase of 5 per cent for calendar year 2015, including a two per cent across-the-board increase and 3 per cent in scale increment, this newspaper was told.

The union, however, pointed out that “the proposal (was) not a true reflection of what was told to our delegation when we met on November 18, 2015.” As such, the union rejected the GPL offer to pay a two per cent across-the-board salary increase to workers and counter-proposed 5 per cent across-the-board with respect to the one-off payment of $120,000 offered to senior and junior managers of the power company.
The union’s proposal was that, with effect from January 2015, the $120,000 be added to the current annual salary of senior and junior managers, and not be treated as a one-off payment.

Further contending that GPL employees were not benefiting from necessities such as meals and travel allowances, in keeping with the proposal, and
considering the frustration of the union, Livan was quizzed on the possibility of the union taking industrial action, but he said that such a decision would have to be decided by union members.

“Any action can be taken — from a sickout to a full strike; the members will decide,” he declared, as he disclosed that GPL is the only state-owned entity whose employees’ remuneration had not been increased.

Management of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) yesterday categorically refuted the GPSU claims that GPL had caused undue delay in commencing negotiations for increases in employees’ salaries and allowances for 2015.

In a press statement, the power company said: “On November 16, 2015, GPL formally invited the GPSU to begin negotiations on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, following on advice received from the Ministry of Finance on the applicability of the 5% and the $5,000 salary increase announced earlier by the Government.”

GPL said that at this meeting it made an offer of a 5% salary increase (comprising 2% across-the-board and 3% in scale increment) and a $10,000 monthly addition ($120,000 for 2015) as a one-off payment, both with effect from January 1, 2015.

GPL also proposed an increase in the mileage allowance for use of personal vehicles from $135 to $150 per mile, and an increase of $100 in meals allowance for overtime work, both offers with effect from January 1, 2015.

GPSU responded to the company’s offer by requesting a 5% across-the-board increase, a $200,000 ($16,660 per month) payment to be included in salaries for 2015, an increase in the meals allowance by $500, and a mileage allowance of $220 per month.

“The union then wrote to GPL, on November 30, 2015, rejecting the company’s offer; propos(ing) a 5% across-the-board increase, and request(ing) that the company’s offer of $120,000 for 2015 be added to the current annual salary with effect from January 1, 2015.

“On December 8, 2015, the company revised its offer, accepting the union‘s proposal for the 5% increase and restating its offer of a $120,000 one-off payment, along with its initial offer of increases in meals and mileage allowances. Regrettably, to date, the union has yet to formally respond to GPL’s revised offer,” GPL underscored.