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Guyana’s public-school teachers have entered Day 4 of the strike, reinforcing their seriousness about standing up for their constitutional right to collective bargaining and strike, in effort to bring the Government to the negotiation table. During the four days teachers have used the opportunity to tell their harrowing stories of economic deprivation, some having to do more than one job to supplement their salary.
More than 6000 teachers are on strike. Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) President Dr. Mark Lyte said the number represents more than half of teachers and he remains optimistic more will join the struggle.
The woes of the teachers are real and articulated both in words and placards, in the hope Government hears their pleas. Instead, government has sought to demonise, criminalise and insult the teachers, and threatened to halt union dues deduction from teachers’ salary. Labour Minister Joe Hamilton said the strike is illegal, an allegation that is not borne out in fact.
Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana guarantees the right of workers to join a union of choice, to engage in collective bargaining and the freedom to strike. Section 23(1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act places an obligation on the employer to engage the union in good faith.
GTU in August 2020 submitted a Comprehensive Proposal on Wages/Salary and Working Conditions to the Irfaan Ali government. As of this month the government is yet to meet the Union. Minister Priya Manickchand said the government has honoured 27 of the 41-point proposal submitted by the Union. The minister ignores the fact the workers’ constitutional right to collective bargaining is being disregarded, which is at the core of the strike.
The minister has also accused teachers of misappropriating cash grants given to them to buy school supplies, causing teachers to inform the public how the money was spent. Teachers are using the strike to deny the allegation, using placards.
Meanwhile solidarity for the teachers has been pouring in from all around, including from individuals, local trade unions, political opposition, local and regional organisations. They have all called on the Government to engage the GTU in collective bargaining. The Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) has expressed full support for the strike. In a letter CUT said “Teachers have offered unwavering commitment to students, families and communities, even as they face increased responsibilities and workloads” and reminded their Guyanese counterpart unity will make them stronger in their struggle for positive change.
