The negotiations between Government and the Guyana Public Service Union have entered into another phase with a counter-proposal by the union body still to be made.
According to GINA, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during his post-Cabinet media briefing today said Government is still to receive a formal counter-proposal to what Government has offered. The two sides began wage and allowance negotiations several months ago, after calls were made by the GPSU, for an increased wages and salaries package for public servants.
The Minister stated that, “Negotiations are still going on, we have not reached a deadlock. We haven’t broken off talks or anything like that. They’re going. We are waiting a counter -proposal now, which we will have to consider.”
Two joint statements have been made with regards to the wages and salaries negotiations, thus far. The Minister indicated that he did not wish to comment more on the matter.
In March, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan stated that public service workers should not expect big salary increases. He indicated that Guyana had been warned by the International Monetary Fund to monitor its spending and had been heeding the advice.
Jordan had urged stakeholders to be understanding as government was unable, at present, to afford hefty increases. The GPSU is said to be seeking the reintroduction of the increment system and pursuing de-bunching regarding salary scales.
