GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana's largest trade union has blasted the Bharrat Jagdeo administration for implementing relief measures, including a five per cent salary hike, without consulting with labour leaders.

President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Patrick Yarde, told the Caribbean Media Corporation that the union, which represents about 60 per cent of the country's public workers, was disgusted with the approach Jagdeo had taken on the matter.

"President Jagdeo will have to stop this autocratic approach in dealing with workers' issues as if he is a feudal lord giving handouts," Yarde said.

"These are labour issues and they must be discussed with the union. We have our legally binding agreement to deal with such matters and since he has been in office he has been imposing increases rather than respecting the collective bargaining process and acting in conformity with ILO [International Labour Organisation] conventions that were ratified unanimously by the Parliament of Guyana." (CMC)