After being told by the Ministry of Public Service that it will not meet with the union within the stipulated timeline on wage negotiations, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has officially complained to the Chair of the Trade Union Recognition Board Dr Nanda Gopaul and called for government to be appropriately sanctioned.
“GPSU is recommending that the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board enforces Section 23 (3) of the Trade Union Recognition Act 1997 and takes action to strongly condemn the inaction of the Government of Guyana, without delay,” the union, in a letter to Gopaul dated July 13 and seen by Stabroek News, states.
The section referenced indicates that an employer who does not negotiate in good faith with a duly recognised union has committed an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $28,000 and $500 for every day after judgement that the remain in breach.
The union explains that in keeping with Clause 6 of the legally binding Agreement for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes between it and the Government of Guyana, a number of letters were written during the period September 1, 2020 and July 7, 2021 addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Public Service requesting the commencement of negotiations for wages, salaries and allowances for the years 2020 and 2021.
“To date there is no indication that a date would be set as stipulated in the Agreement for such a crucial and important meeting. This is viewed by the GPSU as a breach of the aforementioned agreement, Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act 1997 and ratified ILO Conventions as well as a lack of professional ethics,” the letter reads.
The union argues that the ministry’s stance amounts to a pellucid and perpetual refusal to negotiate with the representative of the workers in the public service and signals blatant disrespect for all public servants.
“Of significance is the fact, that the last increase in wages and salaries was since 2019, while allowances were revised more than two decades ago. Meanwhile, the cost of living has increased astronomically, drastically diminishing the spending power of workers. There is also the issue where healthcare workers were denied risk allowances, even though providing quality services during the deadly COVID-19 pandemic,” the GPSU further laments
Last Saturday, the union released a July 7, 2021 letter, which was written to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service Soyinka Grogan, to seek a meeting this week on the negotiations.
In the letter, Grogan was reminded of the months-long attempt to jumpstart the negotiation and told that her failure to acknowledge or respond to these overtures were illegal. It noted that the failure to take action to convene the requested meeting and the blatant disregard of both the requests and subsequent reminders constitute a breach of the legally binding agreement between the parties and is in conflict with Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act which requires the employer to bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with each other for the purpose of collective bargaining.
Grogan subsequently replied in a letter dated July 13 and simply said that there could be no meeting in the past week. Grogan added that as soon as a date is confirmed the union will be informed.
This was not enough for the union, which reminded that the agreement stipulates that meeting should be organised within 10 days of a request.
