Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) president Patrick Yarde says that public servants are now in a vulnerable position in spite of certain constitutional provisions protecting their rights as the government has undermined these sacred values.
In an 85th anniversary message last week, the GPSU president stated that although there are “constitutional provisions for institutions such as the Public Service Commission and the Public Service Appellate Tribunal to protect the rights of public servants, the government has undermined these sacred values, and public servants are now placed in a vulnerable position to the extent that institutions constitutionally responsible for protecting fundamental rights have been unable to ensure the protection of these rights for our members.”
According to Yarde, there is often an arbitrary abuse of authority in imposing conditions of service which are to be negotiated based on existing legally binding agreements between the government and the union.
The GPSU president declared, “I am deeply saddened that within the last decade or so that the relationship has deteriorated often to an extent that the employer, the Government of Guyana, lacks sensitivity to justice and fair treatment, which can be openly hostile, even displaying unwillingness to be civil.”
And describing the relationship as “confrontational” owing to the employer’s conduct, he argued that the government has “repeatedly, arrogantly and autocratically disregarded internationally fundamental principles and standards for worker’s rights that were ratified by the Parliament of Guyana without dissent, and which are intended to regulate the relationship between the two parties.”
Yarde contended that in spite of the government’s claims of working class credentials and respect for the rule of law, the reality in his view is that “this government has been more disruptive of these fundamental principles than any of its predecessors.”
And in that light, Yarde said, “We are deeply concerned about the future of both our members and the public service because of the tendency of the employer, the government’s apparent determination to politicize the public service and to ignore the requirement that while a public servant should faithfully discharge the (legitimate) policies of the government, they must be professional and impartial in the performance of their duties, particularly in dealing with the public regardless of the party in office.”
The effect, Yarde contended, is that trade union rights, basic human rights … are severely undermined and often denied to public servants.
“This is the challenge that we now face, …we shall never be bystanders” Yarde asserted, notwithstanding difficulties created by those who now occupy offices through the struggles, sacrifice and success of working class action and achievement.
And in a call to action, Yarde said that, “We must take up this challenge. We must re-organise, re-energise and be rejuvenated as we modernize our union, preparing ourselves to move forward in unity, overcoming all obstacles while advancing our struggle to greater achievements in the future as members and patriots, building on the sound foundations laid by our fore-fathers.”
The Guyana Public Service Union was founded as the British Guiana Civil Service Association with the primary objective of having a cooperative relationship with the existing government on the premise of safeguarding the interest of civil servants, advancing their welfare and promoting the public interest, Yarde observed.
“Looking back,” Yarde said, “we are immensely thankful to our forefathers for their insight and vision, for the need is even greater now to protect our members, especially public servants, from injustice.”
He also noted that throughout the years, the union did not limit its focus to traditional industrial relation issues but also gave serious attention to other matters of national concern such as crime, corruption, health care, national stability, poverty, and more recently torture.
