As the teachers’ strike entered its twelfth day yesterday, strike relief reforms were being distributed as the GTU and its supporters dug in their heels as they demanded collective bargaining with the government.
Outside the entrance of the 2024 Energy Conference, educators continued to gather and hold aloft their placards while chanting loudly so that their demands for livable wages could be heard not only by the locals, but their target audience… the delegates and potential investors.
And despite the prolonged standoff, the determination among the strikers shows no sign of abating. Stabroek News spoke to the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, who expressed the view that any negotiation must prioritize the welfare and livelihoods of educators over all else. When the strike began, the Ministry of Labour deemed the industrial action ‘illegal’ and said that teachers would face repercussion such as the cutting of the salary of teachers for the days off their jobs. Lyte, in response, told the Stabroek News, “We are addressing it, just yesterday we distributed our strike relief forms to teachers who have been standing with us for the last twelve days. Teachers are not giving up… they feel that this is a just cause and they are prepared to make the sacrifice.”
The union has also gone to court to protect teachers’ salaries as it argues that the strike is not illegal.
On various social media platforms, digital applications have begun surfacing requesting qualified teachers to apply to work in the United States. GTU’s General Secretary, Coretta McDonald, who was standing in solidarity with teachers was questioned by Stabroek News about this new development. McDonald replied that, “Just the same way our nurses are going off, our teachers, many of them who are dissatisfied may very well leave. Because if we cannot get satisfaction [in Guyana] and we can get satisfaction somewhere else then who wouldn’t want to go for that?” McDonald recalled the experiences of a few teachers who left Guyana and after three years of teaching abroad were able to start building their home. “They were able to purchase their motorcar, build a home and teachers are here teaching for their entire life and can’t even afford a bicycle.”
She referred to the Granger administration, stating that she understood then the percentages given to the teachers at that time, however, now that the country has oil, they [the government] can afford to give teachers more.
“All these barrels … that are being pumped every day… this government is still saying to us they cannot afford to pay teachers and we don’t buy that.” Regarding Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s comments at a recent press conference on returning to online classes, McDonald noted, “I notice he’s jumping off on a limb now about where he is talking about returning to online classes… well I want to ask the Vice President whether they have already purchased and distributed the gadgets to give to the children to do online classes? Because if you don’t have that then it is a waste of time”.
Taking aim at the Vice President, McDonald continued, “You are not a part of education… stop meddling in education’s business and allow the people who understand education to meddle in education business”. She highlighted the “hypocrisy” of Jagdeo by saying, “The hypocrisy in the Vice President is that at this stage you cannot believe anything that comes out the mouth of the Vice President… this is the Vice President who had Coretta McDonald as a champion in 2018 when we took industrial action for the same conditions”.
Stabroek News also spoke with a few teachers who asked to remain anonymous but shared their daily struggles as it relates to their lives on the picket line.
When asked about what they are prepared to do following the Ministry of Education’s decision to cut salaries of striking teachers, one teacher said, “I don’t mind… I am here and I am here for a worthy cause… if they want to cut the pay let them go ahead… they got legal implications to that.” The teacher stated that if there is no resolution, they will continue to strike until there is one, “It’s about time… enough is enough.” Another educator shared his view that “The approach from the ministry is one that is combative. When they should be looking to de-escalate this they are making decisions and we know it’s coming from the top to escalate the situation and that’s terrible.” He continued, “They had since 2019 to 2023 they have increased the budgetary allocation over 50% at the same time they are also training more teachers so where is that money really going? Is that money coming to teachers?”
He questioned this move by the PPP/C administration, calling it a waste of money when they can upgrade the salaries of teachers who are already in the system and are already qualified. “They are talking about investing in education, fine. Is that translating to teachers living a better life? The answer to that question is no…Look, they are saying teachers are benefitting from the housing programmes and infrastructure… they are building roads, we love that but if you can’t afford a car to drive on that road how is that helping me?” He referred to the approach by the government as one that is “very childish” and hopes a favourable solution comes about soon. “You have to build your people… invest in your people because people will build your country.”
The educator pondered that if this isn’t done the country will crumble by not having the human resource to sustain what is being built in the country. He said his hopes are for a more humane approach to resolve the crisis.
Another teacher chimed in saying, “The education system is at a standstill so I am asking those around the world to look into our plight… this is not a government thing… this is not a political thing, this is an economic crisis. We are saying to the government that we need an intervention, we need them to meet with our union and bring this thing to an end.”
A few parents who were supporting the movement are also calling on the government to listen to the teachers, meet with them and come to a decision as soon as possible. A parent who has been with the striking teachers since the beginning said, “I stand with our teachers. It is long overdue… a decision must come from the government. A relief of some sort for our teachers… the nation’s children are suffering… future leaders of tomorrow are now at stake but the moulders of those leaders are living pay cheque to pay cheque. I say no more… we took a solid stand and we are calling on Priya (Manickchand, the Minister of Education) to do the right thing”.
