Message from the GPSU President/CEO, Mr. Patrick M. Yarde on Labour Day 2025.-

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) extends warm and respectful greetings to all our members, Public Servants across the country, and workers in every sector. This is a day of reflection, remembrance, and renewed resilience. We gather not just to celebrate a holiday, but to reignite the spirit of solidarity that has carried generations through oppression, hardship, and resistance. Let us not forget, it is we who built the cities, laid the railroads, bridges and roads, plowed the fields, and drove the engines of progress. This beautiful country we live in and its wealth, its infrastructure, its function was shaped by workers’ hands, guided by workers’ minds.

Labour Day in Guyana holds deep significance. It reminds us of the pains, tears, bloodshed and loss of lives of our forefathers who fought relentlessly for justice, security of tenure, decent wages, and dignity at work. Their sacrifices gave rise to rights that are now embedded in our Constitution and enshrined in our Labour Laws. But let it be known: those rights are not to be taken for granted. A generation that forgets the history of organized labour is doomed to repeat the cycles of exploitation and injustice.

As we reflect on the journey of work and workers in Guyana, we must celebrate the crucial role played by Public Servants in every stage of our Nation’s Development. Whether in health, education, infrastructure, or administration, it is the unwavering commitment, skills, and knowledge of workers that power this nation.

Stakeholders in a Booming Oil Economy

Goal 1 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere.” Guyana has accepted the responsibility to eradicate poverty based on this agenda. Every government’s desire is to report progress where citizens can live with dignity and provide for their families. By accepting this goal, the Government acknowledges that too many citizens continue to live in poverty and struggle to make ends meet. Each national budget presents optimistic images of economic transformation, often highlighting how billions will improve lives. Yet workers, especially in the public service, are still underpaid, undervalued, and excluded from key decision-making processes, inadequate wages, rising costs of living, insecure contracts, and limited representation. Many still struggle to make ends meet, while the promises of national prosperity remains elusive. Workers are not mere recipients of policy; they are stakeholders in National Development.

Guyana’s economic transformation, driven by the oil and gas sector, should translate into real improvements in the lives of all citizens. Our voices must be heard in shaping the future of this country. Inclusive governance, transparent dialogue, and a genuine commitment to social justice are not optional, they are imperative.

A Threat to Decent Work

A disturbing trend has taken hold in Public Service, the widespread use of contract employment in roles that are clearly permanent and pensionable. This practice undermines job security, limits access to union representation, and strips workers of benefits they rightly deserve. Even more concerning is that contract workers are often misled into believing they cannot join or be represented by a union, and this is a blatant violation of the Constitution of Guyana, which guarantees Freedom of Association and the Right to be Organized.

GPSU has repeatedly intervened to address these injustices and continues to demand that all Public Service Workers be treated with fairness, equity and dignity.

Stakeholders in a Booming Economy    

The people of Guyana are not spectators in the country’s development, they are stakeholders. The Public Service has long been the bedrock of good governance and quality service delivery. As the economy grows, so too must investments in human capital. Workers must be prioritized, included in decision-making, and offered a standard of living that reflects the nation’s economic gains.

The Role and Resolve of the GPSU    

As the legally recognized representative of Public Service Workers, the GPSU has worked tirelessly to defend the rights of workers. From resolving cases of harassment and abuse of authority to fighting for permanent appointments and equal treatment, we have remained at the forefront of the labour movement. Yet we face growing resistance of political interference, disregard for Collective Agreements, and attempts to silence the voice of organized labour.

Let us be reminded that the GPSU is not a political organization, but our struggle for justice continues to be impacted by political decisions that violate the very principles of fairness, justice and decency.

Call to Unity and Action   

Our strength lies in unity. Too often, free riders benefit from the members’ sacrifices and victories without playing an active role in its struggles. Some undermine leadership during critical negotiations, forgetting that the union’s success depends on collective strength and discipline.

Let Labour Day 2025 be a rallying point for action, unity, and justice. We must:

–      Reject the erosion of secure employment and defend the right to stable, pensionable jobs for all workers.

–      Stand firmly for the full enforcement of the ILO Core Conventions to protect and promote International Labour Standards across all sectors.

–      Demand the fundamental labour rights by upholding the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

–      Press for the urgent ratification of ILO Convention C190 on Violence and Harassment, along with its Recommendation 206, to guarantee dignity, safety, and protection in every workplace.

–      Insist on inclusive governance and strict adherence to the Rule of Law, fostering transparency, accountability, and respect for trade union representation.

–      Advocate better wages, decent work, and investment in quality public services that reflects the values and contributions of all Public Servants.

–      Recognize ourselves as essential stakeholders in Guyana’s progress, not passive observers, but active architects of a just and prosperous future for all.

The GPSU is resolute in its mission. We will continue to champion the rights of workers, push for meaningful reforms, and hold the government accountable to the people it serves. Our weapon is our voice, our organization, our refusal to be broken. When We stand together, We achieve, We succeed! We win!

Today, we reject the idea that we were born to serve in systems that exclude and impoverish us. We affirm that the country we built is ours, not to slave in, but to shape, to share, and to rise. It is in our hands that we stand for fair, more humane and just labour practices. A country where every worker is respected and valued, where no one is left behind, and to live a life of dignity is not a privilege, but a right.

Let us move forward in solidarity, with clarity of purpose, and with strength drawn from our shared history, values and the sacrifices of those who came before us.

As we sing Solidarity Forever, let us not merely echo a song, let us live its truth. Let it stir us to organize, to stand firm, and to build power, not just for today but for generations in securing the future. Let it remind us that we are the heartbeat, the engine of the nation, and when we stand together we rise together, victoriously.

For the Members make the Union! For the Union makes us strong! And united, we will win!

May God bless our Members and all Workers,
May God bless our Union,
And may God bless Guyana!

Solidarity Forever!