GPSU assails Government over “insensitive” treatment of public servants

During a press conference today, GPSU President, Patrick Yarde said that the PPP Civic administration has failed in its obligation to meet with the workers’ union to negotiate salaries and other benefits for public servants.

GPSU assails Government over “insensitive” treatment of public servants

The Guyana Public Service Union, (GPSU) today said it is getting tired of the Government’s disregard for public servants and the continued flouting of the Collective Labour Agreement.

During a press conference today, GPSU President, Patrick Yarde said that the PPP Civic administration has failed in its obligation to meet with the workers’ union to negotiate salaries and other benefits for public servants.

Yarde said although there have been outcries about the treatment of public servants, the Government has not shown any inclination to bring relief to its own workforce.

“This government that claims to be working class and has working class credentials, it’s a mockery, they are very insensitive to the plight of workers,” Yarde said.

The GPSU President said the union has taken note of the various cash grants being offered by the Government to different groups.

He said the obvious selectiveness in the distribution of grants from public funds with noticeable “politicization” is discriminatory.

“I have no objections if they think they have enough resources to give to whoever they want to give but give to the people who collect the revenue, give to the people who discharge the responsibilities of their programme. But it seems to me that there is a deliberate conspiracy to pauperize public servants,” the GPSU President noted.

According to the GPSU President, there has been a mass exodus of Public servants, especially health workers who have gone to other countries in search of greener pastures.

He said the exodus is as a result of the current Government’s neglect of public servants and its decision to not offer them increased salaries, even with the continuing rise in the cost of living.

“Clearly, the people who collecting your revenue and the people who are taking care of health care in the nation, and the people who are educating the nation, the people who checking your projects—clearly, you can make an investment in them that the ridiculous and unconscionable that were stated, it is an eyepass, an insult and most disrespectful,” Yarde pointed out.

The GPSU believes that the actions of the current government do not match its words and talk of “One Guyana”. The Union said the Irfaan Ali led administration continues to make it clear that in Guyana today, some citizens are more important than others.

Since taking office two years ago, the Government has not engaged the union on the issues of salary and other increases for public servants. 

In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses were forced to protest regularly in their quest for improved working conditions and benefits.

Scores of nurses have left the public service since then.

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