Even after four rounds of protests by schools’ sweeper-cleaners last week, and threats of more in the new week, Government has not yet given any official word on how it plans to appease the financial stresses of the mostly single mothers.
And while the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is unsure as to when the matter will be addressed, it has promised to continue standing with the cleaners
A scene from last Thursday’s protest
until their cries are heard.
Last Tuesday, close to 100 sweeper-cleaners from schools in and around Georgetown began a picketing exercise outside the office of the President, calling for their full salaries, which had been cut for the months of July and August. While officials of the GPSU had met with some advisors and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency that day, there has not been any word forthcoming from Government on a solution. The protest continued on Wednesday last, in front of the Finance Ministry and on Thursday in front of the Education Ministry’s Culture Youth and Sport Department. On Friday, the protesters gathered in front of the Education Ministry’s Brickdam office.
Speaking to Guyana Times on Sunday, GPSU’s first Vice President Mortimer Livan said the representations made by the Union have not yielded anything positive. He did say however that during the protest on Friday, Education Minister (ag) Nicolette Henry promised to “see what she can do”.
He said until someone speaks to the Union and the cleaners, the protests will continue.
Among the many infractions the sweeper-cleaners say they face is a monthly salary way beneath the minimum wage. Some have been working for close to two decades and complained that they have not been granted any vacation leave.
Livan had said the conditions under which the cleaners work are unacceptable. He said the situation is developing further into an economic disaster for the workers and their families, as they are on many occasions the only source of income for their families.
