Last Friday the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), through its General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, filed an application to the High Court to join the case of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) v the Government of Guyana. That case was filed on 13th February 2024. That case seeks to have the court deem the 2024 teachers strike legal and prevent the government from stopping deduction of union dues from teachers’ salaries and remitting to the Union.
Government said the strike was illegal, teachers would not be paid for the days they were on strike, and wrote the Union stating it would cease the deduction of union dues. Justice Sandil Kissoon issued conservatory orders preventing the government from deducting pay and refusing to remit union dues until the matters before the court are determined. The case is up for hearing March 20.
The GTUC’s involvement in the teachers’ case underscores the threat workers face in Guyana from a government demonstrating authoritarian instincts and growing intolerance for the views of others. In this environment the safety and welfare of workers and the trade union are threatened.
Lewis at a press conference Tuesday made clear that the labour law states unless the parties have agreed and enshrined in the Collective Labour Agreement that a section is not legal and binding, then it is legal and binding.
He went on to say in the specific case of the check-off between the Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers Union it has not been agreed to that the “Check off system” is not “legal and binding” and therefore the action of the Government to arbitrarily stop the Check-off system is of concern for the serious implications of such actions on the entire trade union movement.
GTUC said as the federated body, under its Rules it has a duty to represent its affiliate on matters of national import. The teachers’ right to collective bargaining is protected in the International Labour Conventions, the Constitution and Laws of Guyana.
In a release GTUC stated it wants this nation, including Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo, to understand that we all stand on the backs of our teachers, from nursery throughout our education pursuits.
“Today the nation’s public school teachers, from nursery to secondary are demonstrating for better conditions of work. We all have the right and the GTUC as the federated body for teachers stands proud with every single teacher in the struggle.” The federated body intoned.
Throughout the strike, which is on pause pending Government meeting with the GTU within 48-hours after teachers resume work by today, March 6, Government officials have berated and insulted teachers. President Irfaan Ali accused teachers of not having conscience, said they must be patient and he will not be bullied. His Government since August 2020 has refused to engage the GTU in collective bargaining on a multi-year proposal it has submitted. That proposal has been re-submitted every year since. Government’s failure to respect the right to collective bargaining led to the strike, which started on February 5.
Responding to the President’s insults, Lewis said he, Ali, is placing the curse of his regime on the backs of the teachers, those who support them, and the Judge who upholds their right in a court of law to ensure justice is served.
Commending teachers for taking a stand, the veteran trade unionist said the nation’s teachers are not alone: “We stand with you. We are proud of you. For today you are leading this nation in the spirit and will of your ancestors.”
Further, he said, the teachers are walking along a pathway that their forebears cleared for them, to fight using the weapons of the trade unions legally against oppressors, against those who will exploit and undervalue workers’ labour and reward workers only with the crumbs from the table whilst they benefit and enjoy from your energy and sweat. “Your struggle is just and legal and rightfully before the courts for adjudication.”
According to Lewis, teachers and all citizens must know and recognise that the government is no victim here. The government, he said, is the abuser, “they abuse the power vested in their office and violate laws for which they must be held accountable. No one is legally exempt from facing justice or seeking justice.”
The GTUC, he said, is prepared to hold this government accountable through the court of law since they demonstrate little or no moral rectitude to govern in good faith. The GTUC’s application will be heard in Court at 11:30 a.m. Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, is representing the GTUC.
