International trade unionists call on Gov’t to respect Teachers’ right to collective bargaining

In a blistering critique of Guyana’s industrial relations climate, two renowned veteran trade unionists have called on the Government of Guyana to set the standard in respecting workers’ rights protected in international conventions and the country’s constitution.

Former organiser of UniteHERE, SEIU unions in the United States, General Secretary Guyana Mines Workers Union, and Assistant General Secretary, Guyana Trades Union Congress, Christopher James; and former Deputy General Secretary, National Union for Public Workers (Barbados), Senator, and current lecturer in industrial relations at University of the West Indies (Cave Hill), Dr. Derek Alleyne, appeared as guests on Mark Benschop’s ‘Straight Up’ show last evening.

In a spirited discussion on the teachers strike, both expressed disappointment the Irfaan Ali administration has refused to meet the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU). The both registered their displeasure the government has no regard for workers’ right to collective bargaining, prescribed by International Labour Convention  Nos. 87 and 98 and enshrined in the Guyana Constitution.

Article 147 of Guyana Constitution guarantees the right of workers to join a trade union of choice, the right to collective bargaining, and the freedom to strike.

James called on the Federation of Independent Trades Union of Guyana (FITUG), of which he was a founder member, and other trade unions to join the teachers and Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) in giving solidarity by joining the strike.

Alleyne said it is disrespectful of the Ali government not to want to engage the teachers who have legitimate grievances. It matters not, Alleyne said, who or what the government feels may have instigated the strike but the fact the workers have  legitimacy, through their union,  to have their grievances address at the negotiation table. This he said must be respected.

The veteran trade unionist reminded Guyana (British Guiana) has led the Caribbean in trade unionist and was the first country to have a registered trade union. Recalling the father of trade unionist in British Commonwealth and Guyana National Hero, Mr. Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, refusal by the Ali administration to engage the teachers union has taken Guyana back to the 1950s.

Both James and Alleyne flayed the government for wanting to use the alleged non-filing of returns by the GTU as a reason not to engage the union. According to both men, issues of such nature are red herring and have no bearing on collective bargaining and workers’ right to negotiate wage/salary and working conditions with the employer. They also reiterated the issue is not about the sum of money, or the explanations the government is giving about how much teachers have received since 2020, but of respecting the right to collective bargaining.

The teachers’ strike is in its second week. More teachers have joined the protest, whether on the streets carrying placards or staying home. Children, parents, other trade union leaders, and members of civil society have expressed solidarity and some are in the protest. GTU has also gained solidarity from the Caribbean Union of Teachers and other teachers union in the region.

In August 2020 the Union submitted a Comprehensive Proposal to the Ali administration. As of writing this story the Ali government has refused to engage the teachers. Instead, the government has turned to fan out across the country to attack teachers, including President Ali who said teachers should have a “conscience.” The majority of teachers earn $85,000 or US$ 425.00 per month in a country ranked among the world’s fastest growing economies.  This year Guyana is projected to earn US$ 2.4 Billion from oil and gas. This figure is up from US $1.62 Billion in 2023.