The statement added: “The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) avails itself of this opportunity to offer its sincere congratulations to His Excellency the President and the Leader of the Opposition for the early success resulting from the commencement of the process of constructive engagement.”

However, the GTUC said: “In keeping with what we consider to be a new era of legislative power sharing and parliamentary activism, we are compelled to bring an emergency and very disturbing situation to your attention and request your urgent intervention.”

“Firstly, it is a serious omission to exclude the Federated Unions of Government Employees (FUGE) among entities to be consulted in respect of the appointment of the members of the Public Service Commission,” the GTUC charged

According to the GTUC the Unions that comprise FUGE are the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union (AT&GWI), Union of Allied and Agricultural Workers (UAAW), Postal and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (PTWU) and the National Union of Public Service Employees (NUPSE).

It said that traditionally, FUGE being certified unions representing several categories of public sector workers has been one of the entities to be consulted when making appointments to the Public Service commission

“Secondly, to include the Senior Staff Association among entities to be consulted in respect of the appointment of the Public Service Commission would be unjustified, unwarranted and totally unacceptable, the GTUC contended.

It further stated that The Senior Staff Association has no Collective Agreement with any entity; nor does it possess a Recognition Certificate from the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board and therefore enjoys no bargaining rights for any category of workers.