Teachers in Guyana are again knocking at the doors of the Government for housing, land and duty-free benefits among others.
This fresh call came amid yesterday’s May Day observances.
The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) with hundreds in its team marched along the roads of Georgetown under the umbrella of the Trades Union Congress to call for more benefits.
“We are asking the Government to come to the table, we have a proposal before them and we hope to have that engagement to flesh out what those numbers are going to be”, Head of the GTU, Mark Lyte told reporters at the Critchlow Labour College.
Lyte said that the proposal came as a direct result of the rise in the cost of living and the need for teachers to be rewarded for their contribution to the nation.
Lyte said that the proposal will focus on increased salaries, duty-free benefits, land, and housing among other things.
“The proposal includes increased salaries and non-salaries benefits, additionally duty-free, risk allowances, travelling for teachers who work in far-flung regions, increased stationary and hard-lying allowances because you know the cost of living in the hinterland is very high and so we want Government to push on that. We also have before them land for teachers, and I know that they say teachers are getting it through the normal process but initially when we had those discussions we were hoping that just as you are giving to the police and the army special arrangements, special arrangements can be given to teachers who want to own their own home.” Lyte noted.
This proposal comes around two years after the GTU had staged several protests against the Government in relation to benefits and COVID-19 conditions.
Just two weeks ago, on April 20, three government ministers met with executives of the GTU and among the issues discussed was the possibility of a multi-year pact.
A brief statement by the Ministry of Education (MoE) on its Facebook page said that on behalf of President Irfaan Ali, the Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira; Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and the Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag met with the President and Executives of the GTU on a number of issues.
“Some of the matters discussed included the possibilities of a renewed multi-year agreement, the many actions being taken to add to the quality of life and welfare of teachers and the various roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders”, the statement said.
In its own brief statement on its Facebook page, the GTU said that members of the executive met with the three Minsters of government to highlight the plight of teachers in the education sector. Several issues affecting teachers were discussed at the meeting. These include:
1. The 2% difference of 2017.
2. Debunching
3. The circular of 2016
4. A new proposal for teachers.
“It was the first meeting with this new government to discuss teachers’ salaries and non-salaries matters. Though there were no pronouncements on the issues raised, a follow-up meeting is scheduled for May 17,2023. We are aware that teachers have been waiting for some time for these matters to be addressed, and wish to assure every teacher that we will not rest until all our issues are resolved with the government. Solidarity forever!”
The government and the GTU have had tense relations on a number of issues. Foremost among these is that the government has been accused of imposing salary increases and neglecting collective bargaining.
The Ministry of Education in 2021, launched the Teachers’ Welfare and Benefits programme as part of its Education Month activities which saw $200 million from the housing revolving fund being earmarked to assist teachers.
Some teachers also benefit from discounts for travel in Guyana by plane or bus, vouchers for clothing and footwear and health insurance packages.
Additionally, some 100 teachers received duty-free concessions while scholarships were extended to teachers who want to attend the University of Guyana.
