GPSU Demands Progress on Wage Negotiations Amid Growing Oil Wealth

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has expressed “profound displeasure” over delays in wage negotiations with the government, intensifying pressure on the state to address public servants’ earnings as the high cost of living continues to squeeze workers despite Guyana’s oil-driven economic boom.

In statements published on October 13, the union raised concerns about negotiations covering 2026 and 2027, alongside a review of 2025, involving salaries, allowances and other conditions of service. The latest complaint raises questions about the government’s commitment to meaningful collective bargaining and whether workers are receiving a fair share of the country’s growing national wealth.

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The union’s statements are available through its Official Publication. For public servants struggling with food bills, transportation, housing and utilities, delays mean continued uncertainty over when additional income might become available to meet household expenses. As the country’s largest public-sector employer, the government faces pressure to demonstrate that its economic achievements can translate into tangible improvements for the people delivering essential public services.