The GTU yesterday rejected the government’s multi-year package for teachers which included a 10% hike for this year amid signs of a deep division in the union
Coretta McDonald, General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), confirmed in an interview with Stabroek News that the union has officially rejected the Government’s offer of a 10% salary increase for teachers. McDonald described the proposed package as “not good for all teachers,” highlighting significant dissatisfaction with the offer.
The rejection was announced following a negotiations meeting held yesterday between the GTU and the Ministry of Education. During the discussions, proposals for salary increases over the next three years were presented, with the Govern-ment offering 10% for 2024, 9% for 2025, and 8% for 2026. McDonald emphasized that these increases, when adjusted for taxes, do not adequately address the financial challenges faced by teachers.
McDonald pointed out the stark reality of rising living costs, citing examples such as the increase in market prices on the coastland and the hinterlands. Items that were once sold three for $100 are now priced at $100 each, while essential goods like rice and gasoline have seen dramatic price hikes. McDonald argued that these economic pressures justify the rejection of the 10% increase.
The negotiations also covered other considerations such as duty-free concessions and scholarships. However, McDonald noted that these benefits were unevenly distributed, with some teachers potentially excluded from receiving them. This disparity further fuelled the GTU’s discontent.
Despite arguments from the Government citing a lack of fiscal space in the budget as a reason for the size of the increase, McDonald highlighted a recent development in the National Assembly. Last week, a supplementary budget of $40.7 billion was approved, leading the GTU to question why a similar supplementary budget for teachers was not considered. “Are the teachers not important?” McDonald asked.
McDonald also noted that the GTU had initially proposed a more substantial salary increase—39.5% for 2024 and 30% for 2025 and 2026. Teachers on salary scales TS4 to TS19 were to receive a 35% increase in 2024, with 30% increases in subsequent years. The current negotiation process involves a review of these proposals and a continued dialogue between the GTU and the Ministry of Education.
President of the GTU, Mark Lyte, was absent from the meeting yesterday due to personal reasons. It had appeared from his recent comments that Lyte was in favour of the 10% increase for 2024.
The final Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to address not only salary increases but also other critical issues affecting teachers. The agreement, which will cover the period from 2024 to 2026, includes provisions for adjusting salary increases if other public sector workers receive higher rates.
Earlier this year, teachers engaged in two separate strike periods totaling 75 days, which included legal actions, mediation, and conciliation efforts. A landmark decision by Justice Sandil Kissoon supported the union’s position on the legality of the strikes, which had severely impacted the education system and led to the cancellation of end-of-term exams.
