In a fiery display of nationalism and no-holds-barred presentation, Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and Member of Parliament (MP) Khemraj Ramjattan not only called on society to support the teachers’ strike but also on the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) to open a Bank Account so the public and business community could support the strike. Appearing on Mark Benschop’s “Straight Up” show last evening, the attorney-at-law addressed the teachers’ plight with the Government and issued a full-throated endorsement of the strike.
Flaying the government for disrespecting the constitutional right of workers to collective bargaining, Ramjattan made clear the teachers strike is legal. Drawing attention to Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana that protects the right of workers to join a trade union of choice, the right to collective bargaining and the freedom to strike, the lawyer laid the blame squarely at the feet of the government for the strike, emphatically stating the workers’ strike is legal.
Tracing the Union’s efforts since August 2020 to get the government to sit at the negotiation table, the AFC leader made clear, in 2024 this is an inordinate length of time for no action and government to expect inaction from the workers.
The Union announced Tuesday the strike will be indefinite and said unions in the federated Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), which it is affiliated to, and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) will likely join.
Ramjattan also touched on Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s accusation the Union has not submitted audited statements and financial records since 1980 or financial statement to the Registrar of Trade Unions since 2004, in what has been widely viewed as effort by government to tarnish the Union and sow seeds of discord among the membership. The Union has since denied the allegation, stating it is “totally false!”
Rubbishing Jagdeo’s claim, Ramjattan explained annual filing of returns is one of those measures which has fallen into disuse and “in law it is called desuetude.” The non-filing, he said, cannot impact on the validity of the Union as a Union. Reinforcing the point, the attorney drew attention to the Trade Union Recognition Act (1997), where the legitimacy of a Union is through certification by the Trade Union Recognition Board and the GTU has that certification.
Making an appeal to organised workers, particularly sugar workers, the AFC leader said they should join the teachers’ struggle and tell the government to negotiate with the GTU. Going further, he appealed for working-class unity, reminding sugar workers the teachers are part of their communities and they should not allow themselves to be used to divide the working class on race or politics.
Lambasting the PPP for its ‘divide and rule’ policy, Ramjattan issued a dire warning the practice could create “big problem” in the society. He also made known the PPP is going after a certain demographic (Afro Guyanese), called on society to note what is taking place, and appealed to all races not to allow the division. The PPP ignores the unions when the majority of members are African Guyanese and/or led by African Guyanese who the party cannot control. The GTU, Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), are among those unions who are recipients of this discrimination.
Democracy, Ramjattan reminded, is not only about election, but also everyday governance, respect for laws and the rights of all citizens.
Touching on the ability to pay, the AFC leader said Guyana is experiencing a financial bonanza and government could afford to pay teachers more than 6.5 percent. Digging into the 2024 National Budget, the MP told Benschop the government prefers to prop up the “crony capitalist class” with the allocation of $662 Billion for infrastructure compared to $121 Billion for wages, salaries and pensions. This was an issue raised by the MP during the debate.
In 2024 Guyana is expected to earn US$ 2.4 Billion in oil and gas revenue, up from US$ 1.62 billion in 2023.
Guyana’s public teachers proceeded on strike action last Monday after Government’s failure to engage their Union since 2020. Making a passionate appeal to President Irfaan Ali, Ramjattan said whereas Jagdeo is hopeless, he believes Ali has a modicum of decency, and called on him to resolve the strike by meeting with the workers’ union. He also called on government to pay the teachers for the period of strike, given the strike resulted from government refusal to engage the Union.
Efforts by the GTU to go to conciliation and arbitration to settle their grievances were rejected by the Ministry of Labour. Minister of Labour Joe Hamilton has since announced the strike is illegal. President Ali insulted the teachers by asking them to have a “conscience.” This week the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development threatened teachers with legal sanctions, issuing a public notice that those without leave approval will not be paid.
