GTUC head slams Govt for “imposed” 0.5-7% increase for public servants

Salary increases
…says APNU/AFC failed to keep manifesto promises

Veteran trade unionist and Head of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) Lincoln Lewis has criticised the coalition Government’s move for “imposing” a salary increases on public servants.
Lewis told Guyana Times that while he does not want to comment yet on the scale of the increases, he had a huge problem with the principle behind which these increases were given.
He reminded that a wage and salary increase, where there is a relationship between a union and an employer, is set through a process of collective bargaining.
“It is something that the current Government when in Opposition claimed that they would have respected the whole process of collective bargaining,” he observed.
The trade unionist said it is clear that they have moved away from that process and have now arbitrarily imposed increases without consultation with respective trade unions.
“And that is my concern. So long there is an imposition it leads to endless problems in the relationship with trade unions and that is what this imposition can lead to.”
Lewis described it as blatant disrespect. Not only to trade unions but the coalition Government’s own commitment to the promises made to public servants countrywide.
“What they are doing, is throwing their own commitment outside, not respecting their manifesto promises to this nation. This is the most disrespectful act ever,” he said.

The GTUC leader feels the move taken by the David Granger-led Administration is one that is seeking to weaken trade unions representing public servants and the movement as a whole.
“That is the prime objective of the Government to say we (Government) are giving you and the trade unions have not done anything for you,” Lewis told this newspaper.
Meanwhile, following reports of the increases, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) on Wednesday stated its rejection, also arguing that it was an imposition.
The GPSU said the basis for its rejection of the salary increase is that the Union was never contacted to have negotiations based on the collective bargaining agreement.
Only recently, GPSU President Patrick Yarde had expressed great disgust over the current salaries and benefits public servants are receiving. His comments were backed by Lewis, who criticised Government also for low wages paid to public servants.
According to a circular dated November 19, 2018, that was sent out by the Finance Ministry to the heads of all budget agencies and seen by Guyana Times, Government approved salary increases across a number of pay ranges for public servants; inclusive of retroactive payments from January 2018.
According to the document, persons earning less than $100,000 a month will receive a seven per cent increase. Those earning between $100,000 and $299,999 will get an increase of 6.5 per cent, while those in the $300,000 to $499,999 range will get a five per cent increase.
Those with a pay check of between $500,000 and $699,999 a month will have their salaries increased by 3 per cent. Meanwhile, those in the $700,000 to $799,999 range will be eligible for an increase of two per cent, while those earning $800,000 to $999,999 will get one per cent in increases and those with a $1 million salary and above will get a 0.5 per cent increase.
The circular makes it clear that these increases do not apply for teachers, University of Guyana employees, Government Ministers and Members of Parliament. It does, however, apply to the Disciplined Services, including the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.
The Ministry indicated that teachers received a separate circular regarding their increases.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan said public servants will benefit from salary increases over the next three years. Minister Jordan stated that the increases will be presented to the National Assembly during the latter part of this month during the Budget 2019 presentation. (Samuel Sukhnandan)