The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) yesterday denounced President Irfaan Ali’s announcement of a two-week bonus for health care workers, saying that it was done without the full input of the union.
Accusing the government of taking an “anti-Trade Union approach,” GPSU 1st Vice President Dawn Gardener said the decision was in conflict with the Trade Union Recognition Act, and International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions that were ratified by the Government of Guyana and are in force.
“The Union views this announcement as arbitrary, given that the bargaining process was not respected to ensure fairness to Health Care Workers, who are battling to protect the nation by providing quality healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, with little or no resources and at risk to their lives and by extension that of their families,” Gardener said in a statement in response to the announcement.
“The Guyana Public Service Union is therefore calling on the Government to respect the workers’ rights and value their contributions. The Government must also respect the Laws of the Guyana and the ratified ILO Conventions on collective bargaining, meet and have discussions with the Workers’ Representative (the Union) on all benefits for the workers so as to arrive at an amicable resolution,” the statement added, while calling on all health care workers to display unity and be prepared to take whatever action necessary to put an end to what the union deemed “abuse”.
On Thursday Ali announced that all “health care professionals” would be classified as frontline workers and receive a bonus equivalent to two weeks’ pay as part of his government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He made the announcement while delivering the feature address at the Commissioning of the Leonora Smart Health Care Facility, where he explained that the reclassification and bonus are part of his September promise to protesting health workers to address their concerns before the end of the year.
Many health care workers staged a series of public protests in September to lobby for their reclassification as “frontline workers” in light of efforts to manage the COVID-19 response and therefore be eligible to receive a risk allowance. They also sought an increase in the risk allowance being offered, access to more personal protective equipment and a raise of pay.
In response, government had threatened to prosecute those who participated in industrial action while committing to address their concerns via negotiations with the GPSU if proposed strike action was terminated. The strike action was initially suspended for “two weeks” to facilitate these negotiations, although up to yesterday neither side had definitively reported on the outcome of their engagement.
Agreed in principle
However, the GPSU yesterday did note that the payment of a risk allowance was agreed in principle between government representatives and the Union. As a result, it said it was firm on the position and is of the view that it should be retroactive from January, 2020
According to the union’s statement, health care workers have been battling COVID-19 for approximately nine months and continuing, not two weeks. During this time, it said, these workers have faced tremendous challenges and it argued that this would continue until the threat subsides or is permanently removed. “It is clear that the threat has increased way above initial expectations, because of the increased infection and mortality rates.,” it noted, while adding that this would increase the risk faced by the workers, who because of the sparse protective resources and uniqueness of the virus, could face infection and possibly death. “These workers are committed and should therefore be properly rewarded,” it added.
The union noted that representation was made for transportation to be provided for health care workers to travel to and from home to avoid cross infection during the use of public transport but this was discontinued by the PPP/C administration, further exposing the workers and adding to their financial burden.
“Mr. President, your considered reward of a one off two weeks’ pay for these workers is disheartening under these circumstances,” it further said, while noting that in its letter to Ali, dated October 20th, 2020, it addressed the payment of a “risk allowance” for the duration of the pandemic threat.
The union also highlighted that a bonus is different from risk allowance and should not be substituted for it. Additionally, it said a realistic bonus should have been at least one month’s tax free salary.
Not enough
Meanwhile, the Alliance for Change (AFC), which is a part of the main opposition APNU+AFC coalition, yesterday welcomed the bonus but maintained that it was not enough in light of the international funding the Guyana government has recently received for the management of the COVID19 pandemic.
Speaking at a virtual press conference yesterday, AFC executive member Cathy Hughes said that the party’s believes that workers should be getting a larger stipend. She also expressed concern that there is no clear indication about salary increases for health professionals or any other category of public servants.
“More could’ve been given and other sectors shouldn’t be neglected,” she stressed.
So far the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has accessed approximately US$30 million in international funding for its COVID19 relief programme.
Two days ago the World Bank announced that it has approved US$7.5 million for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, while earlier this month a US$22 million loan was approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the purchase of medical equipment and personal protective equipment for frontline workers, among other things.
Several hours after the AFC press conference, the APNU+AFC coalition released a statement calling for all public servants to receive a one month bonus.
Describing the bonus offered by government as a “lil freck,” the opposition demanded that all public servants, including health care workers and members of the joint services, receive one month’s tax-free compassionate payment in addition to their December salary
It also demanded that all health care workers receive an additional $100,000 bonus above and beyond the one-month tax free compassionate payment.
“Nothing less would be acceptable,” the coalition declared, while stressing that the APNU+AFC coalition had a proud record of consistently paying significant end-of-year bonuses and generous salary increases to public servants and members of the joint services.
