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The Government of Guyana and the Guyana Teachers Union met today to enforce Clause two (2) of the Agreement signed Monday March 4. According to a Nightly News’ report the two sides, during the morning session, could not find agreement on the Terms of Resumption (TORs) which led to an adjournment. Reportedly Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain adjourned the meeting claiming he needed to consult with his superiors at the Ministry of Education, a decision Union President, Dr. Mark Lyte, said was surprising.
The two sides under a court ordered mediation process, signed the Agreement that put on pause on the 37-days teachers strike. In that agreement the teachers, in good faith, were to have returned to work no later than March 6. Clause two (2) of the four-clause agreement stated, “Discussions shall proceed within 48 hours of resumption of work and shall be in relation to those matters which either Party considers relevant for discussion between the Union and the Government, which includes financial matters.”
GTU, in a Facebook post, said it laid before the government its proposal ranked chronologically to determine order of preference.
The Union wants priority given to all financial matters tabled in a letter submitted to the Ministry on March 5 (see below). It is reported the ministry preferred to deal with 2024 increases. In August 2020, GTU submitted a multi-year proposal which was re-submitted every year since. The failure of the government to engage the Union in collective bargaining led to the strike on February 5.
According to the GTU, when the team re-convened this afternoon government agreed salary increase would be discussed for the period 2019- 2023.
The sides will meet Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 9:30 am. At this meeting the government will present the percentage increase for the period the Union proposed, clothing allowance, 2% difference 2017 and 2018, and Whitley Council moving to 3 years.
