Thursday, June 6, 2024 scores of trade union leaders and members of civil society staged a protest in front the Ministry of Education, Brickdam, Georgetown, in show of solidarity for the striking public-school teachers. The teachers’ strike which began on February 5 is prolonged due to government refusal to meet with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and engage in collective bargaining.
As the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government refuses to engage the GTU and Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) it continues to engage unions like the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial, and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).
Recently Rose Hall Sugar Estate workers were on strike for holiday pay. The strike lasted for one day because the government resolved the issue with an urgency not exercised with any working-class group. Sugar workers are represented by GAWU and NAACIE. GAWU is the industrial arm of the PPP/C and NAACIE is the sister union.
Union leaders were from the affiliates of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Guyana Public Service Union. Village Voice News was told the protest arose from a joint meeting between the GTUC and GTU which forms part of a strategy to intensity the demands for government to respect teachers’ constitutional right to collective bargaining and the court ruling of March 4, 2024 and April 19, 2024.
Braving the midday heat the leaders chanted “resolve the teachers strike”, “pay the teachers more,” “respect collective bargaining.” Among those on the picket line were GTU General Secretary, Coretta McDonald; Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis; GTUC President Norris Witter; Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union, Gissel Nelson; Union and Agricultural and Allied Workers (UAWU) President Leroy Levans; Vendors and Minibus Workers Union President Eon Andrews, among other seniors officer of the GTUC affiliates and GPSU. Some teachers were also participated in the picketing exercise.
The leaders were also joined by members of civil society such as former Georgetown Mayor and Vice Chairman of the Institute for Action Against Discrimination (IFAAD) Ubraj Narine; Dr. David Hinds and Tacuma Ogunseye of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), among others.
Witter called for the intensification of pressure on the government to respect trade unions’ rights and the court ruling. Lewis repeated his call for livable wages/salary for work and end to government disrespect and attempt to marginalise a major section of the working class, Guyana’s public-school teachers.
Guyana is named the world’s fastest growing economy and the richest per capita. In 2024 Guyana’s national budget is $1.146 Trillion, larger than all budgets combined in the nation’s history. In 2024 Guyana will earn approximately US$2.8 Billion oil and gas revenue.
Arizona State University professor Dr. David Hinds, leaders called on the teachers not to retreat from their principle stand in fighting for what is rightly theirs in an oil right support.
McDonald, in expressing gratitude for the solidarity, recounted the struggle of the teachers to get the government to the bargaining table. According to the McDonald the struggle will continue.
On March 4, 2024 in the High Court the lawyers of the Government and GTU agreed the teachers will return to work and the two will meet and negotiate a collective labour agreement arising from the proposal submitted by the Union. GTU in August 2020 submitted a multiyear proposal for increased wages and improved working conditions. On April 19, 2024 the Court ruled the teachers’ strike legal, they be paid for the days on strike and the check-off system must remain in place. Government has appealed the decision that favours its teachers.
Meanwhile Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced at a press conference Thursday the government is looking at measures to give parents cash grant to send their children to private school. The action is seen as undermining the public school system and refusing to pay the teachers.
