City Council workers yesterday staged a ‘sit in’ to retaliate to the municipality’s disclosure on Tuesday that it was unable to pay wages and salaries before Christmas Day.According to President of the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU), Andrew Garnett, one of the unions representing the municipal workers, workers were instructed to engage the action and were advised to cease their operations by noon, yesterday. The only exemption would have been the municipal markets.“We do not have a problem with members of the public so we do not want to obstruct their shopping in the market…but if it means the markets have to be closed for the municipality to pay then we will have to close them.”Among the areas that closed early yesterday were the abattoir, the Maternal and Child Health,Cheap Jerseys China, Public Health and Food Hygiene Departments, and the Environmental Health operations of the municipality. The people responsible for the operations of the sluices at the outfall channels, those at the Stone Depot and those responsible for sanitation had also downed tools.“They cannot expect workers to work and not be paid…so we will see what they (the municipality) do and then we will react appropriately.”According to Garnett, on Monday the union and workers will apprise themselves of the situation and then decide what further action will be taken, even as he lamented the fact that industrial action will by extension affect the lives of innocent citizens.But Deputy Mayor Robert Williams yesterday morning indicated that efforts were being intensified to uncover sufficient funds to pay the workers.He pointed out that at the time every possible area of revenue was being considered with the interest of the workers at heart.However, by early afternoon yesterday, the Deputy Mayor was able to deduce that the intensified efforts had proven unsuccessful thus the municipality cannot afford to pay the workers as was anticipated.He divulged, too, that the management of the municipality had communicated the development to workers, who he claimed are understanding and are willing to work along with the council despite the situation.According to the Deputy Mayor, the workers have also promised to refrain from any industrial action.Municipal Public Relations Officer, Royston King, then announced that the entity is regrettably unable to honour its obligations to workers due to the lack of ready finance.He attributed the situation to the fact that a number of businesses and individuals have neglected to pay their rates and taxes, revenue the municipality relies on heavily.“We are saddened by the fact that at this special time of year when Guyanese look forward to making merriment and reach out to each other with gifts and pleasantries we are not in a position to pay them their wages and salaries.”King disclosed that the Acting Town Clerk and City Treasurer are working assiduously to garner much needed funds to ensure that workers are eventually paid. He added that at the moment no definite date for payment can be identified.However, King said that the municipality is thankful for the commitment of workers who despite delayed payments throughout the year helped keep the municipality functioning.“We are thankful for their patience and understanding but we hope that this kind of condition will end in the New Year,” King said, even as he acknowledged that the year has not been easy for the municipality.
