President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte yesterday said that internal discussions on the latest government multi-year offer will conclude tomorrow and a decision will then be taken on the way forward.
Divisions have arisen in the GTU over the planned acceptance of the deal which includes a 10% increase in salaries for this year.
These discussions are essential for gauging the membership’s response to the proposal. The consultations are expected to conclude by tomorrow, at which point the union will evaluate whether further negotiations with the Ministry are necessary.
Coretta McDonald, the GTU General Secretary said that although the government presented a formal 10% offer last Thursday, supporting documentation only mentioned a 9% increase. McDonald emphasized that the union’s decisions are heavily influenced by its members, who are pushing for a higher percentage increase.
The MoU, once finalized, will address not only salary increases but also other critical issues affecting teachers. It is expected to cover the period from 2024 to 2026, with salary adjustments distributed across the three years rather than a single percentage increase. Reports indicate that the government’s multi-year proposal includes a 10% increase for 2024, followed by 9% in 2025 and 8% in 2026. There is also a clause stating that if other public sector workers receive higher rates, the GTU’s salary increases will be adjusted accordingly. This proposal follows the rejection of an initial 7% increase by the GTU.
The GTU’s original proposal sought a 39.5% salary increase for 2024, with 30% increases for 2025 and 2026. Teachers on salary scales TS4 to TS19 were to receive a 35% increase in 2024, with 30% increases in the following years.
This year, teachers engaged in two separate strike periods totaling 75 days, which included court action, mediation, and conciliation efforts. A landmark decision by Justice Sandil Kissoon supported the union’s position on the legality of the strike, which had severely impacted the education system, leading to the cancellation of end-of-term exams.
