Allowances too complex for timely arbitration -government
Stabroek News
November 14, 2002
The government believes it would be impossible for an arbitration panel to make a timely award to allow public servants to receive a wage hike by year end once all 16 categories of allowances are also considered.
This was the assertion of Permanent Secretary, Public Service Ministry (PSM), Dr Nanda Gopaul at a press conference yesterday following the recent deadlock in talks over terms of reference for an arbitration tribunal.
And he warned that the government would have no choice but to unilaterally award increases to public servants if the current deadlock with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) continues.
However Gopaul said the government is hoping that the union “bites the bullet” and agrees to have wages for 2002, 2003 and 2004 adjudicated by arbitration while excluding allowances which he said could be negotiated later between the parties.
The GPSU at its press conference on Tuesday had indicated its opposition to exclusion of allowances from the list of issues for arbitration. It had also said that the multi-year proposal was a new element in the whole process.
Gopaul said the government remains committed to the arbitration process aimed at determining wages and salaries for public servants but is adamant that it would be difficult to negotiate on allowances at the same time.
Gopaul further indicated that government has not closed the door on a way forward but it would depend on goodwill by both parties and an approach to have the issue advanced.
He said it remained the government’s desire to deal with allowances at a later date when the wage issues are out of the way and a determination had been made on the levels to be awarded.
