Dear Editor,
I write to comment on the concept ‘check off’, a labour term, about which a few letters appeared in the media relating to the cancellation of collection of union dues by the Ministry of Education for GTU which called a strike. I know that both students and (and parents) as well as the teachers themselves are hurting. Thus, both the Ministry and representatives of the teachers need to get together and find common ground to end the strike.
The concept of ‘check off’ is part of labour economics. Union recognition and check off are mandatory in all countries. In America, workers enjoy greater rights than in many countries including Guyana. In USA, labour laws empower workers whose rights are enforced. The employers in America must collect union dues. Employers meet with union representatives to negotiate wages. In many countries, leaders are known to do as they please with workers and even negotiate directly with workers, which is unheard of. In USA, workers have rights and courts as well as the government tend to side with them. Since there are more workers than employers, politicians in America tend to side with workers to win their votes and by extension seats.
The government of Guyana stated it will no longer enforce the check off system for the teachers union. When workers violate a contract, the contract ends including in USA. Employers can refuse to enforce the check off system and even fire the employees who go on strike as happened in USA to teachers and aviation employees or traffic controllers in 1981. Burnham was known to fire teachers as well as withheld their salaries when they struck. It happened to teachers in the 1977 strike on the Corentyne.
In NY, teachers were fined two days’ pay for every day on strike and or fired. Members lost pension rights. The union was also fined. The President of the union was jailed. The union lost check off. At the end of the strike, all penalties were reversed. Check off was restored. Teachers who lost salary were given extra work to recover wages. Fines were waived. Clearly, workers are better off in USA than in Guyana. The GTU losing check off is normal for any union on strike. But once the strike is over, it should be restored. That is usually a condition for ending a strike. Penalties are rescinded as happened in the 1977 strike. Efforts must be made to end the strike.
Separately, I was asked about the fate of the three teachers who were penalized in December 1976, an action that triggered the strike. All three were offered lucrative positions but rejected them. The trio left their jobs and pursued tertiary education in America. Chaitram Singh earned a PhD in International Relations, Jagnandan a PhD in Chemistry. Indira Poonwassie also obtained degrees in Texas. As for the student leaders, several pursued degrees in North America.
Sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram
