Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday noted that the government is ready to recommence talks with the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) but maintained that it was only for the year 2024 and onwards.
“We are prepared to return to the bargaining table, but we made a proposal to them [the union] that we are prepared to discuss a multi-year agreement, which is what they requested, starting from 2024,” he said during his weekly press conference.
When asked for his take on the VP’s statement, GTU President Mark Lyte reiterated that the union would not be negotiating from the current year.
Shortly after Justice Sandil Kissoon’s court ruling in favour of the GTU, General Secretary (GS) Coretta McDonald hinted at a possible preparation of a fresh proposal for a new multi-year agreement, given the Ministry of Education’s refusal to negotiate salaries from 2019.
“We will have to reconsider if we are going to incorporate the 2019-2023 proposals into 2024 or maybe do a fresh proposal for a new multi-year agreement”, McDonald said.
When asked if the GTU had convened a meeting on the way forward, the GS said her ideas had not been discussed as yet with the general membership or executives of the union, but the common goal for all members of the teachers’ union is to see the 2019-2023 proposals come to fruition.
On Thursday night, Lyte noted that the union members had not given the mandate to draw up a fresh proposal and as such the old proposal stands. Previously, he had told Stabroek News that the union had consulted with its members, who expressed the belief that the only way to resolve the ongoing issues with the government was through strike action.
He explained that, currently, the GTU is exploring various options, including seeking arbitration, but their priority is to compel the government to engage in discussions on salary matters. Arbitration remains a possibility if both parties agree, but Lyte indicated that the government has shown reluctance towards this option.
Additionally, the GTU is considering legal action against the Ministry of Labour for not adhering to their responsibilities. However, their primary focus remains on securing a salary increase for teachers. At the time of the conversation with SN, Lyte had said the union was having discussions with its legal counsel to determine the best course of action.
