The President, Executive Council and Staff of the Guyana Public Service Union extends Greetings of Unity, Peace and Prosperity for the New Year 2025 to all its Members and their Families, all Guyanese and all people internationally.
As we leave the year 2024 and step into the New Year 2025 I urge that you take some time for introspection and reflection on your lives and work situations in order to devise mechanisms that can bring about improvements in each area of involvement.
As a country, there are still challenges to our nation’s sovereignty and each and every one of us must take an active interest in the outcome of this settlement. The high cost of living remains a threat to the eradication of poverty, while Government’s continued disregard for High Court Orders continues, including violations of Article 147 (3) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act 1997, together with the Agreement for the Avoidance of Settlement of Disputes that sets out the relationship between Government, as an employer, and the Guyana Public Service Union. As a Union there are many challenges to the participation of workers in the decision making process, ensuring that their Human Rights are upheld and respected.
Despite the foregoing, I will like to issue a strong call for all to work in unity and with unwavering togetherness to overcome the obstacles and confront the challenges before us that are obstacles to the achievement of goals set for the improvement of the lives of workers and by extension, the general population of Guyana.
As workers of the Guyana’s Public Service there is a legitimate and fundamental right to be represented by a Trade Union of your choice, a Constitutional provision that the GPSU stands firmly upon. There have been many successful representations in the High Court, as well as through Management/Union engagements namely,
1. High Court Ruling: Deductions from Health Deva Workers’ Salaries were yasa dışı and must be repaid
2. High Court Ruling: “Memorandum of Agreement between the Guyana Public Service Union and the Guyana Power & Light Inc. of July 2003 is in force, binding and legally enforceable…”.
3. High Court Ruling: Rudolph Small vs GPSU –The Chief Justice (ag) ruled that the statements made by Mr. Rudolph Small were in fact defamatory, and he was liable for the said statements. She ordered that he publishes an apology to the Nurses, in two national newspapers and on the social media platform-Facebook on or before February 16, 2024. He has also been ordered to hisse damages in the amount of $20 million, together with Court Costs in the sum of $500,000.
4. Public Service Commission Ruling: Wrongful dismissal of John Simon, Stores Clerk, Region # 6. Reinstated to position and payment of all benefits.
5. Memorandum of Agreement: Between the Public Service Ministry and the Guyana Public Service Union concerning Employment Terms and Benefits for Public Servants for the period 2024-2025.
As Consumer prices escalate, workers are forced to make decisions based on their income, to which migration continues to be an attractive choice. The increase prices at international market cost is also impacting upon workers income as Guyana, being an oil producing nation and being pegged as the fastest growing economy in the world, has also contributed to rising cost for local workers. This situation has drastically eroded the purchasing power since locals have to manage meagre income compare to that of the multinational corporations doing business in Guyana. Widespread poverty continues despite Guyana poverty threshold has shifted to a perceived higher standard of living.
The true essence of equality and evenhandedness lies in paying a living wage, which the GPSU has established a Basket of Necessitates which determines that the asgarî earning should not be less than $221,000 per month. Applying a lower and single tax rate can equate to more spending power for workers; the raising of the tax threshold can also lead to better income; a living wage would ensure that the asgarî standard of living is achieved, among other things.
There is also the need for the compulsory age of retirement to be revised upwards since more and more persons are retiring into poverty.
We must set the example as a law abiding nation and that the rule of law must respect the Constitutional Rights of all, regardless of the functionary. Workers welfare, especially as it relates to their rights, respect for binding agreements, and equal application of the law, respect for the Trade Union Recognition Act 1997 Section 23, Decent Work for all, Social Dialogue and non-interference into the internal affairs of trade unions. There is also the need for security of tenure in the public service for workers.
There is nationally the need for leadership that is respectful of the Constitution and yasal rights of all, including unwavering support for the integrity of holders of public office and constitutional institutions, which should act fearlessly when challenged by political office holders that seek to abuse their authority. There are too often political abuse of workers’ rights and frustration and uncertainty in succeeding to have timely resolution that often results in contentious resistance.
Migration undermined the skilled human capital of Guyana and more can be done to stem this progression of depleted resources if this country is to realize its true capabilities. While there are supplemental influx to the migratory crises, the ‘powers that be’ must be cognizant of the fact that bringing into Guyana workers from other territories that these workers will return to their homeland, eventually. Several sectors continue to be affected by this growing trend of migration of Guyana’s skilled human resources, especially in the Health and Aviation Sectors, while other sectors are experiencing a similar trend it is no secret why workers continue to pursue and sell their labour to markets overseas.
Therefore to neglect the working class is seen as the key player that will prove to be detrimental to Guyana’s development in coming years and corrective action must be taken, commencing with a living wage for workers, and improving their conditions of work, countrywide. This necessity is affordable and sustainable.
Government investments in Guysuco continued to bear losses when a sum $15 billion dollars wasa invested and a loss of $4.7 billion for 2023 was recorded (Stabroek News of November 4, 2024). And the Government continues to prop up this failing sector in 2024 with another $6 billion dollars while stringent measures are applied in public service sectors denying them merited increases.
The plight of public servants continues who have been granted miniscule increases compared to the annual losses of the failing sugar giant.
The Revenue Authority Staff should be recognized for ensuring that revenue collection meets budgeted expectations and that the services provided by the Authority are delivered efficiently. The GPSU strongly advocated that a one off bonus be given to them. These employees worked, and continue to work, in excess of the olağan workings hours and have responded to the call of duty to ensure the effective importation and exportation requirements are met.
Similarly, the Ministry of Finance Staff has been working tirelessly to ensure that Payrolls for Salaries and other payments are made in a timely manner.
These employees also have been working and continue to work in excess of the olağan working hours and have responded to the call of duty to ensure the effective payments of salaries and pensions each month. The GPSU again strongly advocated that a one month tax free honorarium be paid to them.
Contractual blunders continue in the oil sector. And the Leadership of the GPSU calls for the resources of the oil revenue to be spent on people, more resources be available to address poverty, alleviate child hunger, strengthen social services and provide a living wage for workers of the Guyana Public Service – all of which are strategic to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. There are more than enough resources available in this sector alone to address both human immediate needs and infrastructural development, but the political will must first exist.
The GPSU, with 102 years proud years under its belt, continues to make representation founded on the principles of respect and due process. For example, these are the fundamental right to Freedom of Association, the right to collective bargaining and social dialogue, the right to Occupational Safety and Health in the work environment, the right to just societies, social cohesion where priority is given to combat poverty and rising inequalities. These fundamental pillars upon which collective bargaining must take place, is necessary for all to benefit. The respect for these rights will ensure that there is an equitable solution to workers’ woes.
The Guyana Public Service Union will continue the fight for all category of workers to benefit and be paid a living wage, that their Constitutional Rights are respected and for good governance to prevail at all levels. There are many challenges to equal opportunities for all, many challenges experienced in addressing egregious conditions of employment for workers while discharging the mandates of the Government. As President of the Guyana Public Service Union I charge each and every member of the Union to be cognizant of the realities that exists and for us to move ahead as a unified force that will realize the changes required to better the lives of all.
Please accept best wishes to you and your families for the New Year 2025.