Guyana Public Service Union
2010 May Day Message
Mr. Patrick Yarde – President, GPSU
 

The founding of the British Guiana Civil Service Association during the colonial period was not only welcomed by the colonial authorities but was seen as an important instrument in extending support and cooperation to the government of the day. While it is true that civil servants then had certain grievances, even in relations to their levels of remuneration, it was never within their contemplation to resort to industrial action in furtherance of their interest and grievances.
 
However, over time, agitation against colonialism, especially after the founding of the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) and the elections held in 1953, cleavages and conflicts developed between members of the colonial bureaucracy with certain adverse consequences for the country and society at large, especially in the relationship between the Executive which included expatriate civil servants, local politicians elected under the auspices of the PPP and members of the legislature.
 
It would not be too far-reaching to assert that many of the problems and issues now plaguing the Guyana Public Service Union could be traced back to the foregoing state of affairs. Thus, among the current problems confronting the GPSU is the failure to be recognized and treated as the authentic representative of public service employees. This is noticeably demonstrated in the exclusion of our Union from membership of the Public Service Commission, a privilege traditionally extended to the Union since its founding. 
 
Also, inter alia, the failure to appoint the Public Service Appellate Tribunal as prescribed in the Constitution of Guyana; the failure to adhere to the International Labour Organisations (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at work; ILO Conventions ratified by the Guyana Parliament - Conventions 87, 98 and 151, dealing with Freedom of Association and the Protection of the Rights to Organise , Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, Labour Relations (Public Service), respectively; failure to adhere to legally binding Collective Labour Agreements; the irregular  displacement of traditional public servants by contract employees who are coerced not to join unions, which is in conflict with their constitutional right of freedom of association; the arbitrary and unlawful changing of workers’ conditions of service and the imposition of wages and salaries outside of the framework of the Collective Labour Agreement; the frustration and obstruction of trade union representation for public service employees transferred to semi-autonomous agencies; the reduction and elimination of benefits, gains and rights that were won through trade union negotiations; failure to treat workers fairly and to extend the rules of natural justice and due process to their cases; failure to adhere to non-discriminatory practices in the employment, promotion and appointment of personnel, (a glaring case is the refusal to appoint Ms. Geneveive Whyte-Nedd, to the post of Chief Education Officer of the Ministries of Education). 
 
The forgoing challenges require a disciplined and unified effort from all ranks of the leadership and membership of the Union, amply exemplified in the words of Martin Luther King, “we must learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or we are going to perish together as fools”. This also has relevance to the existing state of affairs in which the trade union movement in Guyana now finds itself and should be borne in mind on this May Day. National unity is imperative if Guyana is to advance socially, economically and politically.
 
The GPSU extends warm May Day greetings to all workers, nationally, regionally and internationally, particularly to members of the GPSU.
 
SOLIDARITY FOREVER 
 
 
April 30, 2010