I submit the Guyana Teachers Union struggle against the Government of Guyana is hinged on the denial of their right to Collective Bargaining enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana, Article 147, which states:
“(1) Except with his or her own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of assembly, association and freedom to demonstrate peacefully, that to say, his or her right to assemble freely, to demonstrate peacefully and to associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to political parties, trade unions or other associations for the protection of his or her interests.”
A nation is governed by laws, and one expects that a lawful government will seek to ensure good governance through adherence to rules and laws. Government is no less accountable than the citizens of Guyana for its obedience to the laws.
The Teachers Union, utilising the right to protest, as enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana, Article 147 (2), which says,“ Except with his or her own consent no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom to strike” is also seeking judicial resolution through the courts.
The decision of the teachers union to seek a resolution to their grievance of an enforced 6.5% wages increase through protest action and via the courts was a just one, for it is the right of every citizen to settle their grievances through the court. The laws are so defined. This is what civilised societies do.
It is very unfortunate that the Irfaan Ali government chose to ignore the laws of our land by attempting to do what can best be classified as an imposition on teachers. Their action was clearly intended to deny teachers due process of collective bargaining and ultimately undermine the laws of our nation.
Not only are they doing so presumptuously, they are also attempting to demonise teachers and present the government as the victim of bullies. Nothing can be further from the truth. And in light of the government, of this oil-rich country’s resistance to come to the bargaining table, after more than a month of strike action Lincoln Lewis, representing the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), has submitted an application last Friday to join the case before the court. Yesterday Justice Sandil Kissoon accepted the GTUC’s application.
As senior counsel I will be representing the GTUC. I wish to publicly acknowledge that my decision to take this case is done from the perspective of me being an officer of the court with responsibilities that I hold dear to see that justice is served in the land of my birth, and that no one is exempt from the right to so do.
I do so as a trade unionist in solidarity with the striking teachers who are only seeking to earn salaries and wages commensurate with their profession and the ability of the government to pay.
We know the government has nothing other than their will preventing them from paying. I submit they had the will in 2018 to demand teachers be paid a 50% increase. We must ask where is the will in 2024 when Guyana with its explored oil wealth is the fastest growing economy in the world.
I do so also as a caring Guyanese who is a product of a public school system, understanding the importance of teachers to the development of our human resources and our teachers.
I am who I am thanks to the work of teachers, so are you and everyone in this country. The work of teachers impacts us all, and we must rally together to make this government understand that we will not be subjected to their continuous abuse, which is manifesting in various forms.
