Lewis condemns Jagdeo’s attack on McDonald

Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, condemns and differs strongly with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s attack on Coretta McDonald, General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU).

Jagdeo, at his press conference yesterday at Freedom House, speaking in his capacity as both General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and Vice President of Guyana, assailed McDonald for what he described as her sabotaging approximately GY$12B in salary increases for teachers over the next three years, based on the government’s proposal.

The Government has proposed salary increase of a 10% for 2024, 9% for 2025, and 8% for 2026. GTU rejected the proposal, contending the proposed increases, when adjusted for taxes, are inadequate to address the financial challenges experienced by teachers. The GTU has proposed a 39.5% increase for 2024 and 30% for 2025 to 2026.

Addressing Jagdeo’s statement that McDonald “sabotaged” the proposal made by the Government, Lewis told Village Voice News the Government’s proposal is a proposal, and proposals are made to be considered by the union membership.

Jagdeo said the Union’s General Council approved the proposal, implying that it is a done deal.

The veteran trade unionist, however, advised that “the General Council of the union cannot operate in isolation of the desire of its membership. Custom and practice dictate that whenever there is a negotiation, before any agreement is reached on critical issues such as wages and salary, the membership will have to be consulted.”

According to GTUC general secretary, the GTU’s nationwide consultation with its members on the government’s proposal is the right thing to do and the Union must be commended for doing so.

Lewis is contending that Jagdeo does not understand how a union functions and is deliberately setting out to mislead and sow seeds of discord among the teachers to satisfy his political agenda of denying teachers better conditions of work that reflect a 21^st Century teaching environment and livable wage/salary in an oil rich economy. International financial institutions rank Guyana the world’s fastest growing economy and the richest per capita.

The veteran trade unionist also advised that unlike the Government, unions cannot force decisions on its membership, consent has to be arrived from among its membership. “Unions are led from behind and guided by the elected leaders,” he said.

Speaking specifically to the proposal for Wages/Salary and Working Conditions,  Lewis said GTU represents teachers in all ten administrative regions and there exists a proposal for direct and indirect salaries. According to the trade unionist, “the direct salaries have a linked to the indirect salary benefits and the Union has a right to do total negotiation on all issues before an agreement can be arrived at.”

The GTUC General Secretary is also contending the Government’s position to only negotiate direct salary and expect an agreement is premature. What the union is asking for is a total package, he advised.

Accusation of political agenda

Jagdeo has also accused McDonald, who is an Opposition Member of Parliament, of having a political agenda. This attack the PPP/C government often levelled against McDonald is not extended to its aligned Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) leader that has always been a PPP/C Member of Parliament.

Sitting presently on the Government’s side in the National Assembly is Seepaul Narine, President of GAWU. GAWU is the union with the most strikes in Guyana’s history. The PPP/C has never labelled its union’s strikes as political. Since the PPP/C returned to government in August 2020 GAWU has had several strikes.

The GTU is not aligned with any political party, unlike GAWU that is the industrial arm of the PPP/C per the Party’s constitution.

On the issue of association, Lewis said Jagdeo’s disrespect for McDonald’s right to freedom of association exemplifies his contempt not only for the Constitution of Guyana but the rights for some citizens of the country. Article 147 of the Constitution protects the individual’s right to freedom of association. According to Lewis, if Narine’s constitutional right can be upheld so too must it be upheld, recognised and respected for McDonald.