Justice Sandil Kissoon will deliver his ruling on the matter of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) vs the Government of Guyana next week. The case seeks a declaration that a five-week strike was legal, that teachers are entitled to be paid for the time on strike, and that the government was discriminatory in halting the deduction of union dues from teachers’ salaries.
Yesterday, the court heard the arguments by the respective legal representatives in the matter. Representing the GTU, Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade submitted that there was no discussion on salary increases, which is a vital part of collective bargaining. He referenced international principles and argued against laws such as “no work, no pay,” stating that they have no place in modern society.