THE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) has, through Minister Simona Broomes, committed to working with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) in an effort to resolve ongoing issues that concern the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).Minister Broomes met officials of the GPSU on Thursday at the Ministry of Natural Resources on Brickdam and declared that, in all negotiations, there must be “full respect” displayed between the union and workers.

“I am not going to say that we will always agree…but there must be full respect,” the Minister said, as she urged the GPSU to “spread the message of public service commitment” to the country and people of the country, so that public servants can understand that their commitment is not to a political party, but to the people of Guyana.

“I am committed to working with you, even when we disagree. You, the workers, are the most important pillars in the Ministry, as you are the ones to implement policy,” she stressed.

The Minister has said that while there will be disagreements between the Ministry and the Union over industrial relations’ matters, good principles of labour relations must prevail.

In 2015, GGMC workers had downed tools and protested for better compensation. The workers had called on the management of the GGMC to pay them or be prepared to have continued industrial action.
The strike action began in 2014 for increased wages and salaries after the management failed to reach an agreement on the matter.

In December of that year, the union had acquired an 8 per cent interim increase for the workers, but negotiations for the previous year and 2014 were not finalised.
The GPSU had demanded as much as 35 per cent increase in wages and salaries, a demand the Commission did not seem comfortable with.
However, there was eventually a resolution to both 2013 and 2014 issues.

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, has recently signed off on the workers’ payout for last year. Workers will receive a month and a half salary award for 2015.

“This shows that, from the highest level, there is no intention to stymie the process or withhold anything from the workers,” Minister Broomes said. However, she said that for this mutual respectability to thrive and prosper, each side must live up to its responsibility.

Minister Broomes called for continued dialogue on the matter, and noted that the union must not only meet the Minister or representatives of the ministry when there are problems.
She called on the union to be the bridge between the Ministry and the workers, so that all are aware of their rights and equally aware of their responsibilities and obligations.

Broomes said her Ministry can serve as an example to other ministries in how to proceed with labour disputes. “We can be a model for other Ministries, to show what decent labour relations could be,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gregory Gaspar, Branch Chairman of GPSU Branch No. 72, said the Union fully embraces the concept that, as public servants, workers have a very important role to play. He said the Union has a huge role to play in the progress of the Commission, and have been looking at a strategic plan for the organisation.

Dennis English of the GPSU said the engagement between the Minister and the Union representatives is appreciated, and he noted that, over the years, that is what was demanded by the union.

“We strive at GPSU to be reasonable in our deliberations, embracing the doctrine of alternative dispute resolution…” English added.

Present at the meeting were Gregory Gaspar, Branch Chairman of GPSU Branch No. 72; Sandrene Abrams, Floor Member GPSU Branch No. 72; Dennis English, GPSU; Unata De Freitas, the GGMC/GPSU workers’ representative; and Beatrice Roberts-Austin, GGMC/GPSU Branch Secretary.