Press Statement: Covid 19 & Salaries Negotiations.
The Guyana Public Service Union views the prevailing Covid- 19 environment very seriously – it is devastating, deadly, generally disruptive and requires urgent attention to sensitize and educate to inform and enlighten the national response.
At this stage, please permit me to take this opportunity to restate the position of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) with respect to the vaccination process in Guyana, and other relevant aspects that are considered necessary.
The GPSU supports the vaccination process which is confined to vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and encourages citizens to be vaccinated accordingly. The GPSU is of the firm position that vaccines must only be administered to persons who of their own free will, agreed to be vaccinated. Under no circumstance should anyone be threatened or forced to be vaccinated.
The GPSU is convinced that in addition to being vaccinated persons should continue to wear masks, maintain social distancing, sanitization and washing of hands and that there should be work rotation, adequate PPEs should be issued to health care workers and any test that is required must be paid for by the Government, the employer.
The GPSU strongly condemns the Government of Guyana’s conduct in pressuring and or demanding that persons be vaccinated, and denying public sector workers from carry out their jobs by locking them out. The GPSU also strongly condemns the use of the police force to remove public sector workers from their legitimate places of employment because they were not vaccinated. The GPSU calls on the Commissioner of Police to cease this practice immediately. The members of the police force must only be used for legitimate law enforcement purposes and not as a political force at the whim and fancy of members of the political regime.
The GPSU calls on the PPP/C regime, specifically, the Minister of Health to rescind the Gazetted Order of July 29, 2021 with Covid-19 Emergency Measures. The GPSU views the order as irregular and an abuse of authority. The GPSU calls for an engagement of all stakeholders to arrive at a consensus position that confirms to the Laws of Guyana and to uphold the Constitutional Rights of citizens. Such an approach would have the GPSU’s support and backing.
The responsibilities and functions discharged by the premier workforce, the frontline workers, doctors, nurses, pharmacist, lab technicians, Guyana Revenue Authority staff, Air Traffic Controllers, Security Personnel and other support staff, must be understood and respected. These employees are not the property of the Government nor are they public slaves, they themselves have been severely affected by this Covid-19 environment and their needs are deliberately being neglected, they are discriminated against, they are being victimized by what is taking place.
The approach of the Government in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis is contributing to more division, in effect the Covid-19 environment is contributing to much more unity – it is absurd that a matter which involves one’s life, such an arrogant approach is taken to deny them the right even to express their feelings and make freely, such decisions. The fact is that people, all over the country and worldwide, are scared and their concerns must not be ignored.
For over two years, improvements in conditions of service have not been addressed. While massive sums accrued through their hard work are being squandered in favour of political preferences and gimmicks. Front line workers who are at risk and were lead to believe that they would be paid a risk allowance for taking on the challenge of being in the vanguard fighting the Covid-19 infections and keeping people alive, at grave risk to themselves. These workers were deceived and are being bullied to risk their lives to continue to function in this deadly environment.
There is much rhetoric of spending enormous amount of energy to achieve national unity. While what is being experienced by the majority of the population is the opposite.
There is need for a Government that leads by example, manned by people who honour their oaths of office and act in accordance with the Constitution and Laws of Guyana.
The GPSU in accordance with the Clauses of its legally binding agreements with the Government of Guyana submitted proposals, for increases in salaries and allowances, the agreement stipulates a time by which the administration should respond, this was not done. However, subsequently there was a public statement that public service workers would get increases by the end of the year. This display is in clear conflict with the agreement and the legitimate manner these matters are addressed.
The Guyana Public Service Union calls on the PPP/C Government to be even handed and to release adequate funds to improve significantly the salaries of public sector workers. In the same manner in which they have provided funds for their constituents, Guysuco and the flood relief.
Public Servants are human beings. It is their efforts that are keeping the wheels of government turning and this nation surviving. Increases in their depreciated earning are merited and must be addressed urgently. It is unconscionable and inhumane to frustrate these negotiations which would undoubtedly result in the recognition of awarding substantial increases in their remuneration.
The Government’s action streaks of disrespect. President Ali’s statement as published in Guyana Times Newspaper of August 30, 2021 quote “How often do we see each other first and foremost as human beings”. President Ali must lead by example and learn to respect and treat each other as one for national unity and not divide the country by mandating vaccination for everyone. Clearly is the President being duplicitous?
The GPSU calls on all Guyanese to recognize that this action by the Government has implications for all and they must call on the Government to respect the individual rights of the citizens, withdraw the Gazetted Order of July 29, 2021 and engage the GPSU on the way forward in dealing with Covid-19 and negotiate increases for wages, salaries and allowances for 2019, 2020 and 2021 for Public Sector Workers.
160 Regent & Shiv Chanderpaul Drive,
Bourda, Georgetown.
August 31, 2021.