$302M interim payout agreed on
LEADERS of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) had up to press time last night failed to sell to members, a preliminary terms of resumption agreement reached with the Government and the mediation team Sunday evening. GPSU President, Mr. Patrick Yarde and First Vice-President, Dr. Anwar Hussein were verbally abused by members who demanded, among other things, that an interim payment pending arbitration, be reflected as a permanent increase on their salary. At a meeting at the union's Regent and New Garden Streets, Georgetown, headquarters, yesterday morning, a female striking worker attempted to physically confront Hussein and had to be restrained. A private sector source told the Chronicle last night he was hoping for a settlement last evening, but said he understands the work the executive of the union were doing to try to get the members to ratify the document. He warned, though, that the strike cannot continue forever, adding that many private sector businesses have passed the stage of being able to wait, and the Private Sector Commission was under tremendous pressure to ensure that the wharves are cleared so that a huge build-up of containers can be uplifted by firms. "It is not the companies themselves that pay the bills, it is the customers," the source said, stressing that the union membership have to realise that the population can have a dim future because of this deplorable situation. The agreement signed on Sunday evening states that the circular sent from the Ministry of Finance to various corporations and companies limiting pay increases to a maximum of five per cent shall be withdrawn. Additionally, deduction of wages for the days employees were on strike shall start from the week commencing November 1, 1999 and shall be deducted over a seven-month period in equal amounts, excluding the month of December 1999. Under the tentative agreement, the sum of $201M advance payment shall be made. This amount represents an advance of the 4.6 per cent offered in 1999 of $101M, together with a Government extra-budget payment of $100M, the status of which will be determined by the Government in consultation with the unions and mediation team within two weeks of the arbitration award provided for hereinafter. In addition to the foregoing, a further $101M will be advanced against year 2000 earnings, yielding a total advanced payment of $302M. This sum is to be paid in three tranches - $216M at the end of June and $43M at the end of July and August, respectively. The amount advanced against year 2000 earnings will be provided from sources other than the Government of Guyana. The parties shall agree to the disposition of the advance payments as an annex to the terms of resumption. The document states that the Government of Guyana agrees to support Federative Union of Government Employees (FUGE) members employed by corporations/agencies who have requested an interim payment of not less than eight per cent for the year 1999 from their employers. The Government also agrees and undertakes to support the expeditious settlement of the current wage claims by FUGE. In the `agreement in principle', the Government has given a commitment to appoint within 15 days of resumption of work a Commission of Inquiry under the Commission of Inquiries Act to investigate the occurrences which took place during the period of the industrial strike. The matters to be investigated are - the Police shooting of strikers and others in Water Street on May 18; incidents at the Ministry of Finance on June 10, and the Public Hospital Georgetown on May 21 and the forced entry by the Police at GPSU headquarters on the night of June 16. It is the understanding of the parties that the President of Guyana may at her discretion specify such other matters that she may consider proper for inquiry, without prejudice to those mentioned. The Government and the unions have also committed themselves to, within 14 working days of the signing of the agreement for resumption of work, to meet representatives of other relevant agencies for discussions with the view to resolving, other than wages and salaries, all outstanding issues, grievances, and claims to keep with the existing agreement for the avoidance and settlement of disputes. In future, where salary and wages negotiations fail to result in agreements and third party conciliation of 30 days fails, it is agreed that until entrenched into the collective agreement, the parties will in respect of future disputes adopt the same methods of arbitration as set out in this agreement. All relevant and reasonable information required by the unions before the commencement of the tribunal shall be within 10 working days of the receipt of each request. This process shall be monitored by the mediation team. With respect to arbitration, an arbitration tribunal will be appointed. The tribunal shall consist of one member selected by the Government and one chosen by the unions. The chairman will agreed upon jointly. The purpose of the tribunal is to enquire into the existing differences between the unions and the Government in connection with wages and salary increases for public service employees, including those for professional, managerial and technical grades for 1999 and 2000. The legitimate access of public service employees as part of the Guyanese community to access funding for poverty alleviation, will also be dealt with by the arbitration tribunal. According to the document, the tribunal shall within 60 days of appointment make an award which shall be binding on both parties who shall agree with the tribunal the terms of reference of the arbitration. The arbitration tribunal may accept and shall take into account any evidence in making its award save and except any agreement entered into by the Government of Guyana and third parties which in the judgement of the tribunal frustrates the objective of free collective bargaining between the parties and to the terms of resumption agreement. Meanwhile, a Police press release said yesterday that a small group of striking public servants demonstrated at the Supreme Court, the Georgetown Hospital, the General Post office and the National Insurance Scheme, Camp Street. Police said the gates to the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts were locked with padlocks by strikers. The padlocks and chains were taken off by Police. Yesterday, Police continued to monitor the activities of the striking workers and are maintaining patrols in the city, the press release said.
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