– slams statements at May Day Rally as disgusting and irresponsible
– maintains that professional negotiations secured reasonable increases for teachers
PRESIDENT of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mr. Colin Bynoe, yesterday responded to statements made by top officials of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) at the May Day Rally, saying they were irresponsible and disgusting.
GTU’s decision to accept a wage deal drew criticism from the GTUC officials.
GTUC’s President, Mr. Norris Witter, said that there are trade union leaders willing to sell themselves for “a few pieces of silver”.
Bynoe countered that the GTUC has not been involved in the negotiations process, and therefore is not in possession of all the facts regarding the agreement made, but has been quick to react to actions of their affiliates.

A GOOD DEAL
He stressed that the agreement has secured reasonable benefits for teachers, especially when one considers that other Caribbean countries have not agreed on additional benefits for teachers this year.
The recent inking of the multi-year remuneration package between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Government brings to an end an unfair tradition that has been with the profession for a long time.
No longer will a teacher who has been in the system for years receive the same salary as a teacher of the same status who has recently joined the profession.
Some $50M or one per cent of the teachers wage bill has been set aside for this new scheme which is expected to be implemented by the end of this month.
These non-salary benefits, inter alia, include an annual clothing allowance of $8,000.00 per annum, an annual allocation of $40M for the Housing Revolving Fund for the next five years to facilitate the construction of houses for teachers, the granting of return air fare/bus fare at the end of each school term for teachers who leave their homes on the coast to serve in the hinterland, a 50 per cent increase on station allowances, the payment of Whitley Council leave allowance to eligible teachers at the end of the month in which they qualify for such payment, and the granting of 30 scholarships per year, tenable at the University of Guyana, in accordance with programmes approved by the Ministry of Education
Also, over the life of the agreement, 100 duty-free concessions for motor cars, up to 1800 cc, will be granted to head teachers. All terrain vehicles (ATV’s) and outboard engines, up to 75 H.P., will also be made available annually to all eligible head teachers as well as deputy head teachers of Grade A schools who have served at least three years in their position, and would have at least five years service remaining before retirement.
“It was something, not nothing,” Bynoe said.
He made it clear that this process went on without the support of the GTUC, a process that they could have, but did not support.
The GTU President pointed out that if they GTUC was not willing to be a part of the negotiations process and to understand what was happening, why “argue at cuss out” at the end of it.

GTUC’s DIRTY LINEN
Bynoe referred to shortcomings in the stewardship of the GTUC, and rather that cussing out affiliates and airing dirty linen in public, the GTUC should have engaged the relevant stakeholders and understand the circumstances, he argued.
“Lewis has dirty linen of his own…Lewis should know better,” the GTU President said.
He stressed that trade union officials should not engage in cosmetic dressing of the concept of unity, rather they should engender unity through respect for affiliates.
Bynoe made it clear that the bottom line of the situation is that the GTU was able to maintain high ground with the package agreed on.
He stated that the propositions of all stakeholders were considered and the best decision was arrived at through professional negotiations.
The GTU President argued that if this process was considered by the GTUC, they would have had different statements to make at this year’s May Day Rally.