GPSU celebrates 93rd anniversary

… in current environment, greater achievements are ahead – Yarde

As the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) celebrates its 93rd anniversary, its President, Patrick Yarde anticipates greater achievements ahead.
In a statement to mark the anniversary, Yarde said these achievements would be accomplished as a result of the current environment which is in pursuit of good governance and justice for the working class.
“In such an atmosphere with unity of purpose within the ranks of the membership and leadership, being firm and resolute, there will be greater achievements ahead,” Yarde said.
He also paid homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for workers’ rights.
“These hard won gains and full recovery must be foremost on our agenda as we pursue our vision to enhance representation for our members’ part, including the modernisation and efficient and effective performance of public servants to the pursuit of quality public service in the nation’s interest,” he stated.
Yarde said undoubtedly the GPSU’s greatest achievements were during the period that Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham led the Government of Guyana both as Prime Minister and President.
He outlined a number of achievements for the Union which has traditionally been aligned to Burnham’s PEOPLE’S NATIONAL Congress (PNC), including the five-day work week, avoidance and settlement of disputes agreement, making collective agreements legally binding, one-month salary tax-free vacation allowance and the amendment to the Constitution to facilitate the Public Service Appellate Tribunal.
He said that these goals were achieved without compromising the GPSU’s independence. “Today, we struggle to enforce these rights which were ruthlessly violated by subsequent Governments; our Agency Shop Agreement was violated in 1987, restored in 1988 and once again violated again in 2000 and remains the same to date; our Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement was continuously abused,” he recalled.
But, Yarde said that the GPSU was looking forward to the commitment given by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government about collective bargaining being implemented among other promises.