After a four-week-long teachers’ strike that ended through court mediation, the government and the GTU met yesterday for talks and differences have emerged over the period that salary increases should pertain to.
Following two sessions yesterday at the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) said that there had been agreement for salary increases to be discussed for the period 2019 to 2023 but Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain last night disputed this and said that the government’s original position remains that any multi-year agreement must start from 2024 and not retroactively. Hussain said that the union has proposed discussion of salaries for 2019 to 2023 and this will be discussed. Talks will resume on Tuesday at 9.30 at the ministry’s boardroom.
According to a MoE release, during the meeting, 27 issues were identified by the two teams to be tabled for discussion. Both MoE and GTU agreed on the order in which the matters will be addressed.
The first issue tabled for discussion was the establishment of Terms of Reference (TOR) for the meetings. The MoE said that after deliberations, it was agreed that that there will not be a signed TOR, however, both parties agreed that at the end of each meeting, two representatives of each negotiating team and two witnesses will sign the minutes.
According to the MoE, some of the items identified for discussion by the GTU are: salary matters included in the multi-year proposal 2019-2023, the 2 per cent difference in salary for 2017 and 2018, the clothing allowance increase, and Whitley Council leave every 3 years. Some issues identified by the MoE for discussion are: teacher absenteeism and punctuality, poor performing schools, continuous professional education, and completion of syllabi.
According to the release, the MoE reiterated its commitment to continuing dialogue with the GTU that has been ongoing and which has produced several noteworthy results that will benefit teachers, children, and the system as a whole.
Chief Education Officer, Hussain, had adjourned the meeting yesterday during the first round to consult with his principals since the Ministry was hesitant to agree on the TORs. The two parties returned at 14.00 hours and the teams decided that rather than having TORs, signed minutes will now be facilitated at the end of each meeting.
The GTU release issued yesterday said, “The MoE’s position to deal with increases from 2024 was debunked. This forced an adjournment for the government’s team to consult with their principals. When the meeting reconvened, it was agreed that the salary increase would be discussed for the period 2019- 2023. Apparently, the percentage increase MoE was ready to put on the table was below par. Hence, the decision was taken to meet again on Tuesday, March 12, at 9:30 am. At Tuesday’s meeting, the government will present the percentage increase for the period proposed.”
The union boss added that while the morning session saw disagreements over the multi-year agreement, the afternoon segment was better after the consultations period and they were able to move forward. He emphasised that the teachers’ salary increase package is the union’s number one priority. The union started the discussion for the proposal and requested a response from the government as it relates to what will be offered based on the proposal being 20 to 25 per cent for the period.
“GTU is mainly interested in the teacher’s salary increase package. So, that remains our number one priority. We would have started the discussion as it relates to the proposal and what the union is to say. We want to know what is coming from the government side in terms of our proposal (for) 20-25%, what is it that they are offering. The ministry did ask for Tuesday so they can report back, in terms of the numbers,” Lyte explained.
He also asserted that the union will not be accepting “single digits”.
The union will also address other matters on Tuesday, including the 2 per cent difference that existed in 2017 and 2018, as teachers have not received it since the conclusion of the last multi-year arrangement. GTU is advocating for an increase in the clothing allowance from $8,000 per year to $30,000 per year.
The MoE delegation comprised Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussain; Deputy Chief Education Officer- AHED, Marti DeSouza; Deputy Chief Education Officer-Admin, Tiffany Harvey; Human Resources Manager, Jacqueline Simon; and Senior Education Officer, Kerwin Jacobs.
The GTU delegation comprised President, Mark Lyte; General Secretary, Coretta McDonald; First Vice President, Mariska Williams; Second Vice President, Julian Cambridge; Deputy General Secretary, Heathcliff Peters; Treasurer, Sumanta Alleyne; Regional Vice President (Demerara), Collis Nicholson; Regional Vice President (Berbice), Donnette D’Andrade; Regional Vice President (Essequibo), Rabindrauth Boodram; and immediate Past President, Colin Bynoe; along with three General Council members, Deoraj Nauth (Upper Demerara), Sergio Joseph (Bartica), and Vanessa Kissoon (Linden).
