–increase workers’ salaries, allowances

THE government continues to play a key role in fostering improved workers’ welfare and industrial relations between several government entities and workers unions.

Overseen by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, two agreements that will see improved industrial relations were signed by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated, and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), respectively.

The signing ceremonies took place at the Ministry of Finance in the presence of representatives of the workers unions and the companies involved as well as the Ministry of Finance.

The first agreement (between GPL and GPSU) is a two-year agreement (2024-2025) allowing for an increase in salaries and allowances for GPL workers and the second agreement (between GUYOIL and CCWU) also paving the way for increased salaries and allowances, is a three-year agreement for the years 2024-2026.

Speaking during the signing of the first agreement between GPL and the GPSU, Minister Singh said the agreement covers two years and comes against the background of a succession of multi-year agreements that government has been able to conclude between agencies in the public sector and the various labour unions.

“The agreements represent just the two most recent instalments in what constitutes a visible manifestation of President Ali’s government’s commitment to a favourable industrial relations climate. I would say that the last two years perhaps were historic years in connection to the industrial relations climate in Guyana, in particular, in relation to the number of multi-year agreements concluded,” Minister Singh added.

Minister Singh also emphasised: “We’ve been able as a government to conclude so many multi-year agreements, really is something that I’m immensely proud of. It is reflective of the maturity of the relationship that we enjoy with the unions in Guyana and the maturity with which the leadership of the unions have adopted its engagement with us.”

The government places the highest level of importance on improving the lives of every single citizen and “we aim to realise this through all that we do, including, of course, the various investments that we’re making in infrastructure, including social infrastructure, education, health care, housing, water, etc…, all of which go to the core quality of life.”

Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine, during brief remarks, said he was pleased that the respective parties were able to conclude agreements as he applauded the management of the entities and the union, pointing out that in many cases, collective bargaining isn’t about winning but examining the best interest of those whom the bargaining entities are serving.

In his remarks, GPL’s Team Leader for its Management Committee, Kesh Nandlall said GPL is in an expansion mode and the company has a pivotal role to provide cheap and reliable power across the country, especially now during the economic expansion taking place.

He also recognised Minister Singh’s role during the negotiation process which led to the successful conclusion of the agreement.

Also speaking during the signing of the first agreement as she signed the agreement on behalf of the union, GPSU’s First Vice President Dawn Gardner said that in terms of bargaining in good faith, ‘as a union we take it very seriously-and the human resource of any organisation is the most valuable resource. For the development of any organisation this resource must be treated with respect. At GPL it is no different’.

She also pointed out that Dr. Singh’s intervention during the bargaining process on behalf of government was very helpful towards the parties reaching the agreement today.

As regards the second agreement, Chairman of GUYOIL, Paul Cheong said he is appreciative of the signing of the multi-year agreement between GUYOIL and CCWU as it would bring further stability to the company and workers can focus their efforts on delivering a good service to Guyanese.

CCWU President Sherwood Clarke during his remarks highlighted that GUYOIL is the largest membership unit of CCWU in terms of both numbers and participation, as he commended the parties involved for their support towards ensuring that GUYOIL’s employees benefit as a result.

He also acknowledged Minister Singh’s active role and strong support in the agreement coming to fruition.

It can be recalled that in 2024 the government and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), after extensive discussions and negotiations, also concluded a multi-year agreement with respect to employment benefits for public servants for 2024 and 2025 and this represented the first agreement concluded by the GPSU with any government in recent memory.

Under that agreement, public servants benefitted from a 10 percent salary increase for 2024 and will benefit from an eight percent salary increase in 2025. This followed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education (MoE).

The government also concluded similar multi-year agreements with the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU), and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), under which these workers received a 10 percent salary increase for 2024, and an eight percent and nine percent increase to be paid in 2025 and 2026, respectively. (Ministry of Finance)