The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) cannot help but be upset by continued betrayal of the APNU+AFC commitment to Collective Bargaining. FITUG wishes to remind theCoalition that on page 25 of its 2015 Elections Manifesto it committed to“[e]nforce the Principles and Laws Governing Collective Bargaining, in accordance with our commitments under the International Labour Organisation”.The APNU+AFC went on in its manifesto and undertook to “[r]estore collective bargaining for all the relevant elements of the Public Service”.
The manifesto’s expressions were backed up by several public statements by leaders of the Coalition. The Federation recalls that then Candidate David Granger at the GTUC Labour Day rally on May 01, 2015, days prior to his ascension to the highest office in the land,promised the workers that his Government “…will stand behind unions so that unions can sit down with employers and restore collective bargaining… it is back to the bargaining table; that is what APNU+AFC will give you”.President Granger, following his election to office, is quoted in the May 21,2015 Guyana Chronicle to say “[w]e have accepted, as a matter of principle, to respect the Collective Bargaining Agreements we have with the State or Government on one hand, and the representatives of the public servants on the other hand…”
Today, those undertakings, like the promises of significant salary increases to workers; to safeguard and make viable the sugar industry; to pay rice farmers $9,000 per bag of paddy; to significantly increase old age pensions, among other things remain unfulfilled and are seemingly condemned to the waste basket. Until now, such promises are just empty, hollow rhetoric of the Coalition. Instead what we have is the nation’s largest ever Cabinet which benefitted from a 50 per cent pay rise days after they assumed office in addition to the substantial perks they benefit from. Also we have the most bureaucratic Administration in our history which consumes some a quarter of the nation’s budget; the racking up of debts and depletion of foreign and gold reserves, and a clear absence of any credible policy to push the country forward. The working-people have had to contend with the heavy burden of several taxes, an ever rising cost-of-living, increased unemployment, higher crime rates, and all round general despondency and growing hardships
The imposition of wage increases by the Government, days prior to 2019 Budget presentation, comes just after the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) described the public servants as receiving poverty wages. We noted too that the Government’s actions also follow a similar development at the University of Guyana. It seems disregard for workers’concerns and cries are the modus operandi of the Administration which has claimed prior to its election it would be an ally of the working-people.Indeed, what a “friend” the workers have.
We wish to remind the Government apart from its apparent lip service to Collective Bargaining, it has a lawful obligation as per the Trade Union Recognition Act and the Constitution of Guyana apart from ILO Conventions to engage recognized unions. Unfortunately,as we have seen too many times, the Government, from all appearances, is least bothered by confirming to law, norms and international conventions and has sought, it seems, to adopt a ‘Bull in the China Shop’ approach to dealing with matters, especially those concerning the country’s working people.
