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.