| – Union threatens strike action as city workers’ wages in limboCarvil Duncan(By Mondale Smith) As another Labour Day looms uncertainty surrounds an exact April wages and salaries payment date for workers of the Georgetown municipality. This publication has learnt that the council cannot pay staffers until maybe May 7 but the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) which represents the majority of the municipality’s workers has had enough and will be calling workers to take to the streets shortly.Payday for the workers is stipulated as on or before the 25th of each month, but thus far this has not happened and at a special press briefing yesterday Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, City Treasurer Andrew Meredith and Andrew Garnett,China Jerseys Cheap, president of the Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union (GLGOU) another union representative, all agreed that “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” The GLGOU represents about 300 workers in the municipality.However, the citizenry need not panic just yet as Mayor Green has assured that contractors will not withdraw their services until after a grace period of about three weeks, as he has met with them. He said too that efforts are in train to garner the millions needed to pay staffers and contractors their wages and salaries but he has not committed to a day or date when payments would be made.There was no GLU representative at yesterday’s press briefing which again emphasised the age-old constraints that have prevented the City administration from widening its revenue and taxes net.When contacted, Carvil Duncan, General Secretary of the GLU said his union’s final position to the capital city’s administration is “Come what may, the majority of municipal workers in Georgetown will be called to take to the streets unless they are paid their April salaries soon.”Andrew GarnettSpeaking from Berbice yesterday, Duncan confirmed that his union represents close to 500 municipality workers and that a ‘sit-in’ has commenced as the first stage of industrial action that has affected works at the Stone Depot and several other departments. This action should last until Friday. “…then we are walking the streets,” Duncan categorically stated.Explaining this stance, Duncan said any administration ought to know long in advance that they are encountering financial difficulties and should make due arrangements for payments to staffers,Authentic Jerseys China, not call a meeting after the set date for payments.City Treasurer Andrew Meredith said that thus far for the year, the municipality has been able to collect $290 million in rates and taxes while expenditure stands at more than $420 Million. He said too that all payments to contractors up to January have been made, while Mayor Green is hoping that Government will honour its responsibility by paying its first quarter rates and taxes.Realising the municipality’s inability to pay staffers, Mayor Green and members of the City’s administration,Cheap Jerseys From China, as well as representatives of the GLGOU met on Monday,Adrian Wilson Cardinals Jersey, with Duncan present, to chart a way forward. But yesterday, a notice was sent to the Town Clerk threatening strike action.According to Duncan,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, the agreement regarding workers is that payments should be made on or before the 25th of each month and “you cannot call a meeting on the 26th to say you have difficulties.”The City administration’s best rates and taxes collection period is traditionally January,Gordon Hayward Jersey, February and March, Duncan said “They ought to have made plans for the remainder of the year. When they would have paid for April, the question would remain what would happen to the remainder of the year.”One suggestion is that a meeting be had with President Bharrat Jagdeo but Duncan is adamant that “We did that already in 2007 and when payments were made to pay workers the contractors were the first priority”.He said they (the Georgetown Municipality administration) have a responsibility to ensure that the workers are paid and manage the affairs of the council properly. “If they can’t do that they should resign and let an interim body take over,” Duncan stated.Mayor Hamilton GreenHe added that the workers and all other city staffers do not have any special arrangements with companies and utility providers and as such when late payments are made they also incur interest.Fingers of blame for the current and continuous financial snafu are being pointed in every direction but on the other hand, workers following yesterday’s press briefing shared mixed emotions amidst the unanswered question of “when we gon get pay?”One proposal given, that may allow for a bigger tax net amounting to billions and that could greatly improve the municipality’s cash flow, is quick judicial action on the many businesses that have appealed judgements. |
