The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is calling on the Government of Guyana to restore the rights of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and respect the rulings of both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
In a press release, the PNCR referred to an earlier statement where it welcomed the decision of the Court of Appeal to reject the state’s application to stay Justice Kissoon’s order that the government must continue to deduct and remit membership dues to the GTU. It noted that on April 19 last, Justice Kissoon not only ruled that the union’s strike was legal, but chided the government for halting the deduction of union dues from the salaries of teachers. Further, it stated, the judge had described the state’s action as “arbitrary, unlawful, unreasonable and without legal basis” and as a denial of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 147, which speaks to the protection of freedom of assembly, association, and demonstration.
The PNCR pointed out that since that ruling over ten months ago, the government has not budged from its position and has not reinstated the practice of deducting union dues from salaries. “We call on the government to desist from this act of vindictiveness and executive lawlessness now that the Court of Appeal has now spoken in favour of the rights and dignities of teachers and the entire working class in Guyana. We demand that the government respects the Appeal Court’s decision to deny its request for a temporary stay of Justice Kissoon’s order, meaning the ruling must be enforced now,” the PNCR said.
“Guyanese must demand of the government to restore the full rights of teachers and their union immediately. We condemn the government’s intention to appeal the appeal court’s ruling to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The government must desist from abusing the court system to victimize and oppress hardworking Guyanese.”
And in the event the government insists on taking the matter to the CCJ, the PNCR asserted, “We, as the next government, will withdraw the case immediately on taking office, and compensate the union for all loss of income resulting from the PPP’s vendetta against it. We will then commence collective bargaining with the GTU to discuss proper remuneration and working conditions for teachers at all levels. Our teachers deserve to be treated with respect.”
