Gopaul wants to meet union on 2003 wage package
GPSU consults with civil society
Stabroek News
November 24, 2002
Permanent Secretary in the Public Service Ministry (PSM), Dr Nanda Gopaul, says that government wants to meet the public service unions on a 2003 wage package, and if there is good will on both sides public servants could get an "something again" before March.
Gopaul, who was being interviewed on GTV's Close Up programme yesterday, was reported by the Guyana Information Agency (GINA) as saying that the government is committed to meeting with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) as early as January.
And despite dissatisfaction over the 5% pay increase for its members for the year 2002, the union is consulting civil society on possible ways to engage government in further talks. According to the union's leaders, the consultations with civil society groups are aimed at encouraging feedback from them on ways the union could successfully engage government on a level of mutual trust, free of politics.
On Friday the union, continued the process started a few days earlier, and met more civil society groups again airing its position on the wages and salaries issue. Among those who have met with the union are representatives of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), Women Across Differences (WAD), Unite Guyana and Stabroek News.
At Friday's consultation, GPSU President Patrick Yarde and Union Consultant, Leslie Melville, gave a detailed account of the union's position as it related to securing a living wage for its members.
The leaders, while providing evidence of strained relations with the government and referring to the latter's periodic unwillingness to honour commitments, were nevertheless at pains to stress the need for goodwill and trust between the parties.
The process commenced by the GPSU is one of several ideas the body is exploring to help arrive at a consensus view on a way to address the wages and salaries issue.
According to the GINA press release, in the GTV interview Gopaul refuted claims by the GPSU that public servants were worse off than in previous years. He referred to the formula derived from a previous tribunal to calculate a reasonable increase for workers, which depended on the rate of inflation and real growth in the economy. He said although the GPSU does not agree with the increase, it was all the administration could afford at this time.
On Wednesday, government approved the 5% pay increase for public servants in the traditional public service along with members of the disciplined services for the year 2002.
The increase was decided upon after both sides failed to reach an agreement on the terms of reference for arbitration. Further, the person approached to chair the arbitration panel, Father Malcolm Rodrigues, declared himself unavailable.
