The struggle goes on
-Yarde tells poorly attended public servants rally
Stabroek News
December 14, 2002
Under close scrutiny by police and dogged by a poor turnout, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) rally under the slogan “No retreat, No surrender”, went ahead with calls for workers to commence a struggle to secure their just rewards.
Describing the rally as one for justice and freedom, President of the General Workers Union, Norris Witter set the tone for the afternoon’s proceedings in which criticism was heaped on government for acts described as anti working class.
The GPSU and the government are at odds over wages for 2002. Talks broke down over which issues should be discussed in arbitration and the government then went ahead and announced a 5% payout. This was above its original 3% offer but far below what the union was seeking.
According to Witter, attempts were made to deny persons their right to freedom of association by seeking to deny the GPSU permission to proceed with the rally.
The police had denied the union permission to hold the rally on Brickdam citing traffic and security considerations.
“This marks the begging of the struggle to protect these rights....,” Witter announced, to nods of approval from the small gathering which including Leader of the PNCR, Desmond Hoyte.
Witter stressed the need for persons to be prepared to struggle for their rights as without this sacrifice there could be no success.
“If you want to change the misery....you must be prepared to make sacrifices,” Witter said.
GPSU President, Patrick Yarde, in his presentation upbraided government for what he said is its campaign to alienate public servants from the union.
According to Yarde, when the union wrote to the Public Service Ministry (PSM) for permission to speak to its members, the union was informed that it was not possible as December is a month when workers are busy undertaking year-end tasks.
Yarde questioned how then it was possible for Permanent Secretary, PSM, Dr Nanda Gopaul to speak to public servants days earlier.
The GPSU head, in a fiery presentation, accused the administration of malice and vindictiveness in its dealings with the union while asking workers to remain resolute in their efforts to achieve justice and fair play.
During his presentation, two police officers turned up and engaged other union leaders in discussions. They departed shortly afterwards and returned when Yarde completed his address. This prompted some person to rush to Yarde’s side anticipating that trouble might be brewing. Several heavily armed ranks aboard vehicles in the meantime maintained a presence in the compound of the nearby Parliament Buildings. However the afternoon’s proceedings passed without trouble.
Yarde in his presentation also traced the conceiving of the GPSU from its humble beginnings 80 years ago in the very school building in the St Andrews churchyard.
He saw the decision to hold the rally at that site as a move by the body to retrace its steps in an effort to reflect on its progress.
He alluded to efforts aimed at preventing the union from holding the rally while positing that the struggle must go on.
GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, commenced his presentation by calling on the relevant authorities to enforce the laws of the land rather than being selective in their dealings with the public.
Lewis accused the government of breaching industrial relations principles and acting outside of rules, regulations and principles.
He saw the union’s concessions to government during the height of the 1999 57-day strike as a “fundamental error”, saying that they [the GPSU] should have knocked them out at that opportunity.
Lewis further accused the government of economic genocide while daring history to prove him wrong.
