GPSU criticises Govt for unnecessary spending

… while neglecting public servants

By Shemuel Fanfair

President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Patrick Yarde, in his criticism of Government’s across-the-board public service increases, has said that while the Administration maintains it cannot afford the union’s proposal, it can still find money for benefits to senior state workers and for other projects.
At his press conference held late last week, the GPSU President berated what he feels are marginal increases which are way less than the 50 percent increases which some ministers were awarded in 2015.

“I am saying categorically that the Government could do better in paying public servants. Look around and see how money could be found to do a variety of things – right in this location (Bourda, Georgetown) you could see. Why money cannot be found right now to pay the people who slaving in the public service? It is a deliberate attempt to keep them in poverty,” Yarde said as he referred to the concrete wall being erected outside the Ministry of the Presidency to replace a chain-link fence.
He later highlighted that Government is finding funds to prop up the benefits and allowances of senior state officials, as opposed to what is received by lower ranked public servants.
He questioned why allowances that were last increased over 20 years ago are still paid to public servants, while at higher levels within public service, workers are the recipient of “the going rate”.
He berated the rates for travel allowance, motor car allowances, gasoline allowance and meal allowances, adding that medical doctors are still receiving a $500 allowance for being on call for several hours.
He added that while Government may not have enough funds to meet their overall proposals at this point, the multi-year agreement proposals were designed to spread out the payments. Yarde noted that the Government has no interest in collective bargaining because of a ‘standoffish approach’ to the negotiating process.
Unions such as The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) have all condemned Government’s proposals. The GPSU have indicated that they would continue to monitor the situation and proceed with the consultations to determine their next step.
Earlier in October, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced that Government had made its final offer of an eight per cent increase for public service employees earning between $55,000 and $99,999, considerably less than the union’s proposals. Government further proposed that public service employees earning between $100,000 and $299,999 would receive an increase of six per cent while workers earning between $300,000 and $500,000 have been offered a five per cent increase. Those earning between $500,000 and $699,999 have been offered a four per cent increase, while those earning $700,000 to $799,999 are proposed a two per cent increase. Employees earning between $800,000 and $1million have been proposed a 0.5 percent increase, while those earning above $1million would not benefit from increases.