In a riveting, sombre and at times emotional speech this afternoon on a Facebook live, Guyana Teachers Union’s President Dr. Mark Lyte, unpacked teachers’ hurt being ignored by the Government in their call for collective bargaining to negotiate a multi-year proposal submitted in August 2020. The proposal was again submitted in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Three Mondays ago, teachers proceeded on strike action to bring attention to their grievances in effort to secure a better life. Instead, teachers have been the recipients of Government’s insults, threats and verbal abuse. Rather than meet with teachers or instruct the Minister of Education or Minister of Labour to, President Irfaan Ali said teachers must be “patient” and added insult to injury, stating they must have “a conscience.”
Government’s has threatened striking teachers with loss of pay and told the Union it would no longer deduct union dues from the teachers’ salary, breaking a practice that has been in place for more than three-quarter of a century. In 2018 the teachers who participated in strike action were paid by A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government.
Guyana is ranked among the world’s fastest growing economies. The 2024 National Budget proposed expenditure is pegged at $1.146 Trillion. In 2024 Guyana is projected to earn US$2.08 Billion in oil and gas alone. These are expenditures and revenues Guyana has never seen. In 2023 Government imposed a 6.5 percent increase in wages/salary for public servants, including teachers.
In the last three years the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government has increased the emoluments of the president and ministers by more than $300,000 per month. Reportedly, government ministers receive allowances of $300,000 each month to pay their driver, and $161,000 each month to pay their maids/housekeeper. Most of Guyana’s public-school teachers, who are graduates of the Cyril Potter College of Education, receive a monthly salary of approximately $85,000.
An emotional Lyte said whilst teachers sought to get government’s attention to be treated fairly, what they received in return are no thanks, more cuss-out, high-handedness, victimization. Reacting to the mistreatment, the unionist said he draws strength from religious conviction, stating that the God he serves “doesn’t sleep.”
Another painful moment for striking teachers is President Ali driving past them, with full security protection paid for by the state, tinted windows closed, as though they don’t exist. An aggrieved Lyte pointed out Ali’s behaviour is not something one would expect from a President of a country and referenced previous presidents, namely Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Desmond Hoyte and Donald Ramotar who he said would have stopped and engaged the teachers.
The Union leader also bemoaned the silence of the majority in society and parents, whom he felt had they come out and join the teachers would have forced government to address their issues. Whilst acknowledging the shroud of fear and victimization in society, Lyte said others fought and lives were lost for Guyanese to enjoy the limited freedom they have. He cited the role of Father of Trade Unionism in the British Commonwealth, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Cuffy, Damon, Enmore Martyrs, among others, whose contributions and sacrifices have contributed to existing freedoms.
Sharing insight into personal input he made, the trade unionist said he engaged various ministers to see how they could get government to intercede in the plight of teachers, but his effort came up empty handed.
Alluding to the level of hurt that has brought teachers to tears, the trade unionist said the hurt is a result of “the manner in which they have been ignored and ignored continuously.” He noted teachers’ cry is not isolated or singular, and irrespective of who is in government, “people need more to survive,” and the “we care” statement must be more than words.
He said as an educator, a professional, he has watched over the last days his colleagues in tears, “broke down” by the treatment received from government and the silence of the majority in society and parents. Lyte said whilst he acknowledged this silence may be a function of fear of government victimization, he called on Guyanese not to be shackled by these. He said teachers vowed to continue the strike.
Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana protects the right of workers to join a trade union of choice, right to collective bargaining and the freedom to strike. Section 23(1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act places a duty on the employer to negotiate with the trade union in good faith. The teachers’ employer is the Government of Guyana.
