| By Zena HenryThe Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is hoping that come this week, favourable results would bring an end to its continuous row with the Government over wages and salaries for public servants. The union is optimistic that another engagement on the matter may see workers attaining salaries above the current pay which the union has repeatedly described as “unacceptable”.Union President Patrick Yarde will also be pushing for legislation surrounding the compulsory use of designated public funds for its intended purpose. Yarde said at a press conference Friday that the union continues to reject the imposed five percent increase that public servants received last year.He disclosed that public service representatives have since written to the Government outlining what they believe should be done. Yarde stressed that far more funds than what was utilized was approved in the estimates for payment, and had the Government paid all the money allocated, public servants could have seen increases in salaries up to 15 percent. He said that the union requested to meet with the Government to review their position before moving forward.GPSU President Patrick YardeIn a letter sent on January 3, the union reiterated its objection to the five percent increase,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, and said that it would seek to conclude negotiations lawfully under the Agreement for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes. In doing so,Jerseys From China, the union said that it would bring up the Appropriation Act 2012 which with the President’s consent, clearly and definitively authorizes that Estimates of Expenditures passed in Parliament 2012, be spent specifically for the reasons stated.“Therefore, it follows that the amount approved by the Parliament for the Revision of Wages and Salaries could only be legitimately used specifically for the purpose of revising wages and salaries,” the union indicated. They continued that, “It would therefore be in conflict with the Appropriation Act 2012 for it to be used for any other purpose, as appears to be the practice.”The Union thus called for the total amount allocated for the purpose of wages and salaries to be used legally in accordance with the Act. They also demand that wages and salaries be paid, “Proportionally in an across the board manner to all recipients whose wages and salaries are paid from the sums stated in the “Estimates of the Public Sector Current and Capital Revenue and Expenditure 2012”.The letter was forwarded to varying executives such as the President,China Jerseys Wholesale, Prime Minister, and Ministers of Public Service, Labour and Finance,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, as well as members of the Opposition parties.In explaining further the dilemma which Yarde insists the Union faces, he highlighted that from the Estimates of the Public Sector 2012 current expenditures, total wages and salaries were estimated at $25,630,Wholesale Jerseys,000 but this amount, he said,Wholesale China Jerseys, was not used only for public servant wages, despite the Appropriation Act clearly stating that, “Every sum set out in the schedule is hereby appropriated for the purposes specified therein with effect from January 1 2012.”At the last meeting between the two parties, the union had expressed disappointment and regret at what it indicated was “the deliberate attempt by Government to frustrate and stultify efforts to end the 17-year imposition of arbitrary rates of wages and salaries”. The union had stated that it “Experienced a disgusting array of frustrating maneuvers and no real attempt at addressing the wage issues.”Yarde said that the Union would also be seeking information on contracted workers paid by the Government. He highlighted that every year, sums estimated for those workers seem to increase, but the bigger discrepancy with this issue, he opined, is the backburner treatment that may be meted out to permanent workers earning far less that what those contractors are paid. He said according to law, workers employed by the state should be given a fair chance in upward mobility, providing that they function according to their designated duties.The GPSU has requested that the Government provide names, ages, designations, salaries and allowances for those contract workers who are paid with public servants’ money, to enable the reassessment/re-evaluation of the rates of pay and allowances received by all categories of employees in the Public Service.The Union said it hopes that as soon as possible, the ongoing wage and salaries issue could be resolved amicably. |
