The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) have collectively voiced their disapproval of the latest coronavirus measure instituted by the government that mandates that persons wishing to visit ministries, government departments and agencies must first be vaccinated.
In a joint press release yesterday, the GTUC and GPSU stated that they stand together in “resolute” solidarity with workers and members of the public who exercise their rights to choose not to be vaccinated while asserting that they “will fiercely defend those rights with every legal method available to us.”
According to the release, the two union bodies consider the Government’s current approach to the managing of Guyana’s COVID-19 pandemic as “nothing short of government/employer tyranny” adding, “the blatant violation of laws and transgression of workers/citizens’ rights are abominable.” It posited that the effective management of this health crisis entails decision-making which must be guided by science, laws and resources. There must also be broad meaningful involvement of all the stakeholders including the trade union movement and that it will not countenance “willy-nilly infringements of the rights of workers/citizens.”
Reference was made to the “executive lawlessness” displayed by the Government of Guyana regarding what was referred to as “its blatant disregard of The Agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Public Service Union for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes, Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act 1997 and Inter-national Labour Organization Conventions 98 and 154.” This new breach of individual rights and freedoms, the release stated, coupled with “despicable and unlawful coercion tactics” will not be encouraged by its members.
Calling the new measures “coercive mandatory vaccine diktats” it stressed that these should not be deployed to pressure citizens into receiving medical treatment against their will as doing so is a violation of Part III Article 9 of the Medical Practitioners Act and the Ministry of Health Patient Charter 2018. Further, it informed that the individual’s right to keep his/her medical information private is protected by Article 10 of the same law and provisions in the Patient Charter.
Concerning the lockout of health care workers at Linden Hospital Complex and the COVID-19 Hospital as well as Maritime Workers, the unions regards these acts as a breach of article 12 of Public Utility Undertaking and Public Health Services (Arbitration) Act Chapter 54:01 and the Avoidance and Settlement of Dispute. And the request (considered unlawful) for workers to cover the expense of their COVID-19 tests as required by regulation flouts Article 47 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act Cap 99:10 Part IV.
In the unions’ view, “threatening” workers who exercise their rights is a violation of Article 58 of Occupational Safety and Health Act Cap 99:10 while denying the public access to health care is a breach of the unconditional right of every citizen to free medical attention and social care enshrined in Article 24 of the nation’s Constitution. “It is a grave transgression of rights to require from workers a negative PCR COVID-19 test or vaccination as a pre-condition for continued employment.”
The release juxtaposed these “breaches of the law” with the fact that “public servants have not been afforded pay increases for the last two years while prices are increasing, prompting the question ‘What next’?
The release also pointed out that COVID-19 vaccines are not mandatory by law and that there is sufficient evidence to establish that they are not a panacea for the COVID-19 pandemic, so therefore “vaccine hesitancy is inevitable, particularly in light of the ease and speed with which facts float across the globe.”
As far as the unions are concerned, Guyana “fumbled” in the initial stages of combating the pandemic, and the shaky beginnings of COVID-19 battle did not inspire confidence and trust during a period when trust was needed
And while the unions took pains to assure that they intend to abide by universal conventions, principles and laws, and are not opposed to anyone taking the vaccine, they are adamantly opposed to an approach that refuses to acknowledge and allay citizens’ legitimate fears about the pandemic and the vaccines; particularly for those who have pre-existing health conditions and are disallowed the opportunity to determine what vaccine they take or whether they should take the vaccine at all. Further, they are also opposed to what it sees as the absence of transparency in handling the pandemic, which is vital to building confidence.
“We are opposed to the unilateralism displayed by the government in the management of a crisis that requires collaboration. We are opposed to the use of any vaccine not approved by the only international authorising agency- the WHO. We are most concerned about the safety and health of the working class and their families. But surely the Government cannot realistically expect all the people of this country to simply ‘trust and obey’ as if there is no other way.”
The release posited that it is the duty of the state to ensure the health and safety of its citizens. Decisions must be guided by science, consensus, laws and available resources, and not “brute force and arrogance.” The government must not prevent citizens from going about their legitimate business, whether they are vaccinated or not. The agencies are free to do COVID-19 pre-screening and must enforce COVID-19 guidelines on the premises.
The union movement has called on the government to cease “antagonising and dividing” the nation in the handling of the virus. “Rights and laws must not be transgressed to mask what is evidently poor handling of the pandemic. The Trades Union Movement strongly condemns the mismanagement of this health crisis in Guyana which must end now,” the release added.
