Justice Sandil Kissoon handed the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and striking teachers a win. Today the High Court granted Conservatory Orders blocking the Government of Guyana from cutting the salaries of striking teachers and from stopping deduction of union dues from teachers’ salary. The orders are in place until the substantive matter before the Court is determined. The case will be heard on Wednesday 20th March 2024. The GTU is represented by attorney-at-law Darren Wade and the Government by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C.
The teachers are in the third week of strike action as part of their effort to bring the Government to the negotiation table to engage in collective bargaining with their Union. Instead, the Government has threatened teachers with salary deduction for the days they are on strike and informed the Government will no longer deduct union dues from teachers’ salary and remit to the Union.
President Irfaan Ali and his ministers have also sought to criminalise and demonise the teachers, accusing them of misappropriating cash grants given to buy supplies for their classrooms. The President had called on teachers to have patience and also insulted them by saying they must have “a conscience.”
The GTU has been in a protracted struggle with the Government since August 2020 when it submitted a multi-year proposal to negotiate increased wages/salary and improved working conditions for teachers. That proposal was re-submitted in 2021, 2022 and 2023. To date the Government has not budged.
On Tuesday, 16th February 2024 the Union, through Wade, approached the Court seeking to quash the government’s decision to discontinue deduction of union dues from teachers’ salaries and a declaration the strike is legal.
