| Municipal workers are yet to be paid their salaries for this month, a habitual practice which is likely to attract stern reactions from the unions that represent the workers.The administration of the municipality via correspondence had advised the unions,Logan Ryan Patriots Jersey UK, the Guyana Local Government and Officers’ Union (GLGOU) and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) that workers would have been paid by Tuesday.GLU General Secretary, Carvil Duncan, confirmed that his union was in receipt of such a letter but noted that he was not advised of the reason for the delay in payment. According to him, based on the letter received,Eddie Lacy Packers Jersey UK, he is not aware that the municipality has a major financial problem.At a media briefing last week Tuesday,Steve Grogan Patriots Jersey UK, Town Clerk, Mrs Yonette Pluck-Cort revealed that the city entity was experiencing financial problems and may not be able to meet certain obligations on time. She cited the payment of workers as one of the obligations even as she speculated that funds would not have been available until a few days ago.Pluck-Cort related that the municipality has been experiencing cash flow problems, thus there has been a shortfall in the entity’s anticipated revenue collection.She disclosed that both workers and the unions that represent them had been so advised.But Duncan disclosed yesterday that despite the challenges the municipality faces, it is still obligated to pay the workers in a more timely manner as they (workers) also have responsibilities to pay bills and undertake other business that require finances.And since the administration of the municipality has not been able to fulfil its obligation to the workers, Duncan related that the GLU-represented workers have been instructed to commence a sit-in action.“They cannot work if they are not being paid. That cannot be right…They work and they expect to be paid by a certain date…”Duncan further disclosed that the workers will continue this mode of protest (sit-in) until they are paid,Tony Gonzalez Falcons Jersey UK, adding that any attempt to penalise them will result in full-blown strike action.He opined that the municipality should be more sympathetic to workers and have mechanisms in place to help them in such situations. He expressed displeasure at the fact that senior officials have advised the workers to find other means of income, adding that “this simply means that they will be competing against their employer which is grounds for them (workers) to be dismissed.”Duncan disclosed that the administration of the municipality needs to have the workers’ interest at heart,Tyson Jackson Falcons Jersey UK, even as he divulged that the union is still awaiting a response from the municipality with regards to a 20 percent increase for workers.President of the GLGOU, Andrew Garnett, said yesterday that the situation being faced by the workers is nothing less than frustrating,John Stallworth Steelers Jersey UK, as from all indications, it is a permanent problem. He speculated that the administration of the city entity is on a course of making excuses and does not seem willing to accept helpful suggestions.“Since last year we suggested that a stakeholders’ forum be held, even for half-of-a-day between the unions, the administration and the policy makers to treat with the problem. We have had no response…we had even signed a Memorandum of Understanding with them and yet nothing…”Like the GLU General Secretary, Garnett disclosed that he is of the firm belief that the administration does not only have a lack of interest in the welfare of the workers but also lacks the political will.In essence,Deion Sanders Falcons Jersey UK, he noted that the protracted situation does not only show a lack of concern for the workers, but also the municipality’s inability to meet its mandate to the citizenry, a situation which is coupled with a lack of capable human resource in some areas.“People are put in senior positions and the union is of the opinion that there are certain problems in the way that they perform. So they do not have the political and administrative will to allow for efficiency,” Garnett stressed.However, he said that his union is bent on treating with the problem in a comprehensive way, adding that a call for industrial action will only make matters worse.As such,Martellus Bennett Patriots Jersey UK, he noted that the union is prepared to sit and discuss the situation among its members in order to devise a suitably firm strategy that will aptly address the workers’ dilemma in the long run.And while there has been no significant development in the municipality’s ability to garner sufficient funds, Public Relations Officer, Royston King, said yesterday that the Acting City Treasurer, Andrew Meredith, was expected to make some payments yesterday.“We have not been able to amass all of the money to honour our obligation to workers, so with the little we have, the Treasurer will try to make some releases…starting with the lowest level of staff, particularly those that work in the field.”According to the PRO,Rob Gronkowski Patriots Jersey UK, although the situation is indeed regrettable, workers have demonstrated patience and tolerance and have stood by the municipal administration. And in order to have the situation normalised, King said that the municipality is appealing to rate payers to come forward and make their payments urgently which could allow for the payment of all workers by tomorrow. |
