The PPP/C government in preparation for the 2024 Budget yesterday held a consultation with trade unions at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal despite the fact that it has ignored the requirement for collective bargaining with several of them.
The meeting was led by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips and included Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand; Minister within of Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira; Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag; and other cabinet ministers, and officials from various Ministries. Those attending on behalf of the unions included representatives of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), the Trades Union Congress, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITUG), and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
The unions at the meeting which reportedly represent the majority of the working class, presented their proposals as what they would want to see in the 2024 Budget.
Prime Minister Phillips who led the meeting said that it comes as a commitment by the government to craft a budget with everyone in mind.
“Prime Minister Phillips welcomed the Unions and indicated that the Government welcomed the opportunity to receive suggestions, comments and other inputs from the Trade Unions on matters of interest and importance in order to inform Government policies in crafting Budget 2024. He also thanked the Unions for their cooperation and interest in engaging with the Government on behalf of the workers they represent”, a release from the Ministry of Finance said
At the end of the meeting, the government noted that the meeting stands as part of President Irfaan Ali’s continued commitment to the government’s ongoing engagements with the trade unions and all other stakeholders.
In an invited comment on the meeting, Manickchand, told Stabroek News many of the items that had been raised, the Government is already working on and other issues were also floated on which the Government and the Unions will be working in the future.
“Many of the things that are being asked were already done through the Ministry of Education; those professional homes, etc. and they also raised the issue of salaries with the finance minister and other financial benefits. The other financial benefits like things they would like to address that have a monetary impact and consequence. Everything has a monetary consequence, everything has a dollar sign attached to it”, she said.
Manickchand when speaking about her ministry, said that some of the things the unions asked for were grants, to spend less and have more materials, along with smaller classrooms, in which they have already been working for some schools. All of these fall under the bracket of being already provided or being worked on currently.
She said that the meeting was fruitful and as advised that the ministries will be working on putting out a document which will show the work that they achieved together.
“I thought was a very fruitful discussion. We left agreeing based on recommendations from senior, Lincoln Lewis, that we should speak publicly about some of the things we have achieved together because this kind of cooperation is a good thing and it’s where we want to head. So, we will put out a document shortly about the things that they have been actually been able to do together”
Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary Lewis, also spoke on the importance of collective bargaining.
“We have pressed home the point of collective bargaining in the public sector; primarily between the Guyana Public Service Union and the Guyana Teachers Union. We believe and we made the point to them that the issue of the law requires collective bargaining or the law permits collective bargaining under the Trade Union Act and we emphasise that the government must respect that but at the same time, they are breaking the law and it’s not a good example for the private sector to follow”, he said.
He added, “While some of the things the unions might have submitted in proposals and negotiations; what the government did is to go ahead and implement some of these things without signing an agreement with the GTU, which is another way of cutting the union out from the process of satisfying the requirement or the demands of the staff members. When they do that, it gives the impression that is the Government that is doing that and that is something negotiated by the union. So, that needs to come to an end”, Lewis declared.
He said as a representative of his union, he proposed a grant for first-time homeowners
Lewis said he also spoke about the NIS, the deficit that must be replaced, the issue of unemployment benefits that are not being paid, and a total overhaul of NIS. Free Education from Nursery to University. Wages and Salaries
The trade unionist said that they have made their points and now the ball is in the Government’s court.
“I believe that the Unions have made their points and it is for the Government to respond. We will not at this time say that it’s positive or negative, what we are doing; we are waiting to see what comes out of the budget. That in itself is the proof of the pudding”, he said.
It is unclear whether or not the government plans to meet with the unions again.
