Royston Drakes Production

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) said it strongly condemns the irregular, arbitrary, anti-trade Union approach  announcement made by President Ali. Ali on Thursday, announced the grant of bonuses equivalent to two weeks’ salary to Health Care Workers.

For days frontline workers took industrial actions demanding better working conditions and risk allowance. The GPSU said the decision to make the award was done without fully engaging with the Union on the matter. This is in conflict with the Trade Union Recognition Act, No.33 of 1997 and ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 151 that were ratified by the Government of Guyana and are in force.

The Union views this announcement as arbitrary, given that the bargaining process was not respected to ensure fairness to Healthcare Workers, who are battling to protect the nation by providing quality healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, with little or no resources and at risk to their lives and by extension that of their families.

The union in their press release on the matter told the President, Healthcare Workers have been battling COVID-19 for approximately nine months and continuing, not two weeks. Over the past period, these workers have faced tremendous challenges and this would continue until the threat subsides or is permanently removed.  The Union noted that It is clear that the threat has increased way above initial expectations, because of the increased infection and mortality rates. This would obviously increase the risk faced by Healthcare Workers, who because of the sparse protective resources and uniqueness of the virus, could face infection and possibly death. These workers are committed and should therefore be properly rewarded.

Representations were made for transportation to be provided for Healthcare Workers to travel to and from home to avoid cross-infection during the use of public transport. This was taken away by the Administration, further exposing these workers and adding to their financial burden. The fact that transportation cost also increased because of the pandemic has exacerbated the situation. It is also recognized that without taking into consideration the increases in COVID-19 cases, an insensitive and irresponsible decision was taken for the public transportation to operate at its full capacity.

Mr. President, your considered reward of a one off “two weeks’ pay for these workers is disheartening under these circumstances. The Union in its letter to you dated October 20^th,2020 addressed the payment of a “risk allowance” for the duration of the pandemic threat. The Union wants to put on record that a bonus is different from risk allowance, but while a bonus is well deserved by these workers, it should not be substituted for a risk allowance. Additionally, a realistic bonus should have been at least one month” tax free salary for these deserving workers. Further, the payment of a risk allowance was agreed in principle between Government representatives and the Union. Hence, the Union is firm on this position and is of the view that it should be retroactive from January 2020

The Guyana Public Service Union is therefore calling on the Government to respect the workers’ rights and value their contributions. The Government must also respect the Laws of the Guyana and the ratified ILO Conventions on collective bargaining, meet and have discussions with the Workers’ Representative (the Union) on all benefits for the workers so as to arrive at an amicable resolution.

The GPSU is calling on all Health Care Workers to display unity and be prepared to take whatever action necessary to put an end to this abuse should this injustice continues.