“The President has again employed the use of his unilateral and divide-and-rule strategy” – Coretta McDonald AA

The Membership of the GTU views with disdain the disrespectful, dictatorial, and divisive announcement that was made by President Ali today November 9, 2023.

The President has again employed the use of his unilateral and divide-and-rule strategy, which runs contrary to the process of Collective Bargaining as is enshrined in the Constitution of this Dear Land of Ours, which the President uses at his convenience. This act of hypocrisy is dangerous to good governance and must never be allowed to nest.

We condemn, this act of the President, who has seen it fit to bypass the Executive of the Union but is happy to steal bits from the GTU’s Proposal, tweak same, and then come out with his usual unimpressive rantings to give the impression that his government is caring. It is important to remind all, that it was this very President Ali, who when he sat in the Opposition Bench a few years ago, echoing the call for the return of Collective Bargaining is now doing the opposite. It is also important to note that at that time when he was making in presentation, it wasn’t for SOME Teachers but he was speaking for ALL Teachers.

While the Membership of the GTU and its Executive are happy to receive benefits that are due to us, we are extremely disappointed and dissatisfied with the manner in which this announcement of salary adjustment was done. As a matter of fact, from as far back as 2011, the issue of Debunching had been on the table where ALL Teachers would benefit from Salary Adjustments. Let it be known that this act of Union Busting and Divisiveness by the President is clear and is viewed by all but be put on notice that the GTU is One Big Family and at no time would We allow this regime to sow seeds of discord amongst Us.

The announcement by the President is premature, insensitive anti-working class, unprincipled, and in Our minds just an ill-calculated jump from the roof. This forces one to ask the questions:-

* Why is the President afraid of Collective Bargaining?
* Why is the President trying to demean teachers, as if we have an Animal Farm in operation?
* Is this the President’s way of rewarding teachers who have been toiling from sunrise to sunset, making sacrifices beyond the call of duty, and on many occasions neglecting their own families?

It is a SHAME, that President Ali is unaware of the hardship teachers face and throws twenty-five thousand dollars at Us as what he has termed a ‘ bonus’ …… total eyepass while others have received forty thousand and two hundred and fifty thousand as grants.

The President must tell Us about the $211 million US that was given away, which could have been used to adjust the salaries of all teachers, give us double-digit increases, furnish Our schools, upgrade the dorms and living quarters of teachers and so much more. We totally reject this act of bullism and therefore call on the President to rethink his approach and allow the process of Collective Bargaining to resume, which is an act of respecting the Laws of Guyana.

As a UNION, we will continue to hold fast to the values of Trade Unionism, we will hold hands in UNITY as a mark of respect for the many who have toiled this way before us and on whose shoulders we now stand and are enjoying the benefits they fought for with blood, sweat, and tears. We will continue this struggle because we are confident that we are on the right side of the table and will continue to demand at every opportunity Equality, Justice, Fairness, and Respect.