The Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) is calling on the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Teachers Union to bring about industrial peace. In a statement CCWU said the union believes talking is necessary to bring about a solution to the main reasons that led to the teachers’ industrial actions. Additionally, the CCWU believes that both parties should have a need and a desire to find an amicable solution to the industrial action. Solutions can always be found.
CCWU also made known the results from collective bargaining in a collective agreement embody not only terms and conditions for the teachers covered by it but also generally define the relationships between the parties to the agreement.
Taking a dig at the Ministry of Labour that has responsibility to mediate labour disputes, CCWU reminds the mediator’s job is to keep the parties talking and help them through more difficult points of contention. To do this, the union advised, the mediator typically takes the parties through five stages:-
“Firstly, the mediator gets the parties to agree on procedural matters, such as by stating that they are participating in the mediation voluntarily, setting a time and place for future sessions, and executing a formal confidentiality agreement. One valuable aspect of this stage is that the parties, who often have been unable to agree on anything, begin a pattern of saying yes.
“Secondly, the parties exchange initial positions, not by way of lecturing the mediator but in face-to-face exchange with each other. Often, this is the first time each parry hears the other’s ‘complete and uninterrupted version’ The parties may begin to see that the story has two sides and that it may not be so unreasonable to compromise their initial positions.
“Thirdly, if the parties have agreed to what is called a caucusing procedure, the mediator meets with each side separately in a series of confidential, private meetings and begins exploring settlement alternatives, perhaps by engaging the parties in some “reality testing” of their initial proposals. This process, sometimes called ‘shuttle diplomacy, often uncovers areas of flexibility that the parties could not see or would have been uncomfortable putting forward officially.’
“Fourthly, when the gap between the parties begins to close, the mediator may carry out offers and counteroffers back and forth between the parties and may elect to return to a joint session to exchange their offers.
“Finally, when the parties agree upon the broad terms of a settlement, they formally reaffirm their understanding of that settlement, complete the final details, and sign a settlement agreement.
CCWU noted the above steps are necessary and would be a massive effort by all concerned in the Government and the Labour Movement to work together toward the goal of industrial peace through understanding.”
Compliance with the outlined could see the teachers returning to their classrooms and learning loss alleviated, the union pointed out.
