Close to 70 public servants took to the streets yesterday to protest against the 5% pay increase arbitrarily instituted by the government and Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) President Patrick Yarde said the protest action will continue on Monday.
Before the marchers took to the streets of Georgetown, Yarde said that because the union only got permission the day before,
there was not enough preparation. He also stated the while the turnout was not large, they will prevail and be successful.
He also lambasted the government for not acting in the best interest of the workers. “What we are protesting is the abuse of the law, executive lawlessness. No one is superior to the law… There has been no respect for workers’ rights from a regime that claims working class credentials,” he said.
“A budget was passed which could have afforded the payment of 15% across the board to everyone.
That is less than what we asked for but it is three times more than what is being prepared to be paid to [public servants]. Money was passed since April and it is only in December in an arbitrary, high-handed way it has been paid out,” he added.
Yarde noted that the union has been asking for an increase in wages for public servants since 2000. “We have over the period been asking for us to meet to discuss the matter. We have now been forced and it seems that there is no intention to meet. This is the 13th occasion that this has happened,” he said.
Yarde also said that he was concerned about the heavy police presence. “What mentality contributed to a van of police with batons and shields? Who was the idiot that felt it was necessary to send a truck load of police with batons and shields. Did they view us as criminals?” he questioned.
The group marched from the GPSU Headquarters, 160 Regent and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown, east along Regent Street, south along Vlissengen Road, west along Brickdam, north into Avenue of the Republic (western half), continuing into Main Street, east into Lamaha Street, south along Main Street, east into Church Street, south into New Garden Street, into Shiv Chanderpaul Drive ending where it started.
The initial route that was set out by the union was supposed to pass along the Regent Street area, but this was amended by the police.
Maurice Butters, GPSU Region Ten representative said, “We have said before that the imposition and disrespect shown by the government to public servants has reached a stage where we need to put a stop to it. When you look at what was passed and what is being said by the authorities it shows that they have no respect for public servants,” he said.
Butters also informed that the people of Linden have given their support to the protest. “The people of Linden stand very strong against what is going on and we are prepared to support the union in whatever action it takes until we can succeed in what we set out for,” he added.
Region Ten Chairman Sharma Solomon also echoed the sentiments shared by Butters, while calling on the government to honour its obligation to public servants.
“I believe it is only fitting that many of our nurses and public servants are here in this demonstration and in a show of solidarity the region is here to demonstrate. Five per cent is indeed insufficient… We will continue to pursue without relenting in ensuring that the government honours its obligation to working people,” Solomon said.
He added that the protest was not only about the increase. “It is about the injustice against our workers and not having them sit at the bargaining table and be able to sit down and ask for their fair share.”
In recent weeks there have been scattered protests by public servants at the public hospital in the city and other facilities. The government has not shown any sign so far of a compromise with the union over the 5% payout.
