The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has rejected wage increases approved by the Government for public servants and says it is “an imposition.”
First Vice President of the GPSU, Dawn Gardener told News Room Wednesday that there has not been a single meeting with the APNU+AFC Government on wage increases since the start of the year.
“The Union rejected the increase because we had no negotiations on it,” Gardener said.
The GPSU official reminded that it was the APNU+AFC who promised to restore the collective bargaining process “from the time this Government got into office.”
In a note first published by News Source, the Ministry of Finance approved 7% salary increases for persons working up to $100,000 per month, 6.5% for those working between $100,000 and $299,000 per month and 5% for those working for between $300,000 and $499,000 per month.
Persons working from $500,000 and above $1M will be given increases ranging from 3% to 0.5%.
The increases do not include teachers as a separate circular has been issued to address their wages in keeping with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU).
Also not included is the University of Guyana, which recently announced its wage increases of 3% and 4% for staff.
During a press conference a week ago, President of the GPSU, Patrick Yarde said the Government is frustrating the bargaining process.
He said the current wages of public servants are “poverty payments” and criticized the APNU+AFC for going back on its promises.
The GPSU on Wednesday held a meeting with its executive members where it is expected to make a decision going forward.
The National 2019 Budget will be presented on Monday where the increases are expected to be formally announced.
