…GTU tells Linden teachers during outreach

THE Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) on Tuesday agreed with President David Granger that there should be no confrontation in their ongoing struggle for a 40% increase in salaries for teachers, insisting that” we ain’t want a clash, we want the cash.”

On the sideline of a commemorative ceremony for the 1823 Demerara Revolt at the Demerara Revolt Monument on Monday, President Granger told reporters that the Education Minister is working towards an agreement with the teachers. “We don’t want a confrontation; we don’t want a clash. We value the services of teachers,” he said, when approached by the Guyana Chronicle, and posited that while a high-level committee was established to find a solution, that solution has not yet been found, but his government is not giving up.

The high-level committee was put together last November to address salary negotiations and other issues affecting teachers. The matters to be addressed included non-salary issues, allowances, de-bunching and matters highlighted during the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the education sector, in addition to the GTU Multi-Year Agreement. “We haven’t found a solution,” President Granger said, adding: “We are continuing to work for a solution; we are not aiming to have a confrontation. We know that the teachers have some rights, but we know government also has some obligations.”

Asked whether the government intends to put a new proposal on the table in light of the pending nationwide industrial action, President Granger said the government’s proposals were announced by the Education Minister following meetings with the Finance Minister Winston Jordan. Those proposals, he emphasised, are still under consideration. The President said the GTU was urged to consider the obligations of the government to other sectors of the economy in making its demands, as he pointed to the $32B which was pumped into the sugar industry and other initiatives taken to solve the problems it inherited from the previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration. “I think that some of the demands are justifiable, and we provided the funds, which could, in our estimation, provide relief to the teachers,” President Granger said, adding: “Don’t forget that over the last three years, the salaries of the lowest paid teachers have increased by 50 per cent, so the teachers weren’t excluded; they weren’t ignored; they weren’t omitted.”
40% or nothing
Meanwhile, over 300 teachers residing in Linden turned up to the GTU meeting held on Tuesday at LICHAS Hall and pledged to fully support the strike action which will commence on Monday. In fact, the teachers said that to send a strong message to the Ministry of Education they will be commencing that strike with a march in front of the Department of Education building in Linden. The teachers were very vocal during the two-hour-long meeting and expressed their dissatisfaction, with the government’s counter proposal to what GTU had presented. The teachers unanimously agreed that the union should not negotiate below 40%, citing their many financial struggles to make ends meet.

Executive members of the GTU reiterated throughout the meeting, that the battle is not a political one, but a bread-and-butter one. GTU President Mark Lyte posited that it is time teachers stand up for their respect, since he sees the government’s offer as disrespect and an insult to every teacher in Guyana. “I am saying to you, enough is enough,” he said to loud applause. “I call on every teacher to join forces with the Guyana Teacher’s Union, because united we stand, divided we fall.” Lyte called on the teachers to not show up for any pre-term activity come Monday and after one week of the commencement of the school term, if no positive response has been received from the government, then additional forms of industrial action will be taken to send an even stronger message to the administration. He said that the GTU does not intend to have a nasty clash with the government, but wants the government to understand their situation and to understand the struggles teachers face in trying to afford a decent life. “We ain’t want a clash, we want the cash,” Lyte said.

Not afraid

Several teachers said that they are not afraid of the government’s emergency plan to hire temporary teachers and are prepared to make the sacrifice of not having their salaries, until a proper answer is brought to the bargaining table. Lyte said that he cannot promise strike relief, but the GTU is taking into consideration that teachers have commitments, which were also stressed by some teachers as a concern. “What will happen to the teachers who have banks to pay and who have Courts to pay?” one teacher asked on behalf of her colleagues.

Lyte said that he is aware of the situation and is asking for some sacrifices to be made, if salaries are being cut. “Strike should not be only about money, but we are setting a platform for our children and our children’s children.” He said that the GTU’s dues cannot sustain strike relief payments, since it is used for many reasons such as payment of several affiliation fees, staff and buildings to maintain, death benefits, bursaries and scholarships amongst other commitments.

He said that he contacted a lawyer seeking advice and was told that it is a worker’s right to strike and therefore they should not be punished for carrying out their constitutional right. An injunction will be filed against the government by the GTU, if salaries are cut.

Poor working conditions
Citing Minister of Education Nicolette Henry’s position on improved performance, the Linden teachers said that they cannot produce better results in the conditions that they are working under. Mackenzie High School teacher Vanessa Kissoon said that the minister should visit the classrooms in which the teachers have to work in. “We are teaching under some conditions that are not conducive to learning; they want you to produce and they are not giving you the resources to produce,” Kissoon said to loud applause. Other concerns that were brought to the fore include meal allowance, class sizes, increase in the uniform allowance and risk allowance.

The GTU is undergoing several outreaches across the country to sensitise teachers on the strike action. Lyte, following the last meeting with the Education Ministry, told reporters that its proposed salary increases for teachers are extremely important, stressing that teachers cannot survive on the salaries they are receiving. The GTU has proposed an across-the-board increase in salary of 40% for 2016; 45% in 2017; and 50% in 2018, 2019 and 2020 be granted to all categories of teachers and teacher educators for the years 2016-2020. The Ministry of Education has allocated $700M to facilitate salary increases for teachers, in addition to $200 million to address de-bunching for the year 2018