-flexibility seen over negotiation period
The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) remain at odds over the resumption of teachers’ duties and salary negotiations. The industrial action, which has been ongoing since March, shows no sign of ending soon.
In a telephone interview with Stabroek News (SN), GTU President Mark Lyte reiterated the union’s stance that the government must agree to an interim payment across the board before negotiations can begin.
“[The] 20% interim payout is on the table. It’s left for the ministry or the government to say, ‘look we can’t give you 20%, but we can give you so much interim. And that’s what negotiations are meant to do; to have talks, you know… but we’re not getting that from the side of the ministry,” Lyte asserted.
The union has also proposed a compromise in which it is willing to work with the government on a two-year timeline, but only if the government agrees to meet them halfway. On Thursday, Lyte told members of the media that the GTU is willing compromise and have negotiations for the years 2022-2025. This is a step down from their initial proposal which is demanding negotiations from 2019-2024.
“The union is willing to flex even if it means that… they take two years, we take two years, the union is willing to work with that”, he said.
However, the MoE is sticking to its guns, insisting that teachers must return to work before negotiations can take place. Minister of Education Priya Manickchand yesterday reiterated to SN that the 1990 Memorandum of Agreement requires teachers to resume duties before conciliation talks can occur.
The union is adamant that this is not a viable option, and Lyte has stated that the union will not return to work without a satisfactory agreement on the terms of resumption.
“[The] Ministry of Education is asking us to re-enter the classroom and then they will talk, we are not prepared to go with that. Once the terms of resumption are satisfactory, we will return to the classroom, but we will not return just like that,” Lyte emphasized.
The stalemate has led to continued uncertainty for teachers and students alike, with no end to the strike in sight. The GTU has promised to continue its strike action for the upcoming week, and it remains unclear when or if a breakthrough will be made.
In a statement, Manickchand criticized the union for negotiating through the media rather than engaging directly with the ministry. She called on the union to return to the negotiating table in accordance with the 1990 agreement.
“This union speaking to the press and Priya speaking to the press and negotiating through the Stabroek News is unhealthy. I’m not going to engage in it… the union needs to get back to the table in accordance with the agreement… to avoid disputes or to settle disputes,” Manickchand declared.
Though the strike continued, the two sides met at the Ministry of Labour on May 13, 14 and 20 but were unable to arrive at an agreement.
