A decision by Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) President Dr. Mark Lyte and Vice President Julian Cambridge to sign to a pre-prepared agreement to accept 9 percent wages/salary increase in 2024 as against the 29 percent the union membership was bargaining for has attracted President Ali’s commendation. Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Saddam Hussain signed for the government.
President Ali in a virtual broadcast said the new agreement will boost teachers’ salaries and benefits over the next three years. The Union has waged a battle, including taking the matter to court and engaging in strike action, to protect their right to collective bargaining. In August 2020 the Union submitted a multi-year proposal to address working conditions and increase wages/salary.
The government refused to engage the Union until the Court in April ruled the unionised public school teachers, per Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana, are guaranteed the right to collective bargaining.
Role of membership, conciliation, arbitration
In a turn away from event and what is customary in negotiation is that leadership returns to its membership for approval before signing the agreement. This did not happen, creating division between and among the union leadership and membership.
According to industrial relations practice, if the members approve the employer’s (government in this instance) final offer, the leadership would sign the agreement. However, if the membership rejects the offer, the next phase would have been conciliation where the Ministry of Labour will play a conciliating role according to the Collective Labour Agreement. If the conciliation fails then the Ministry of Education and Teachers Union would move to arbitration to make a determination of the Union’s proposal and Government’s counter proposal.
The signing of the Agreement yesterday by the Lyte and Cambridge denied the union’s membership their right to pursue the negotiation process to finality as allowed for in their Collective Labour Agreement.
The Economy and what the Government/Teachers Agreement entails
In 2024, based on the agreement, the teachers will receive a 10 per cent increase in wage/salary, in 2025 an eight per cent increase, and in 2026 a nine per cent increase. Over the three year period the increase will total a 27 per cent, representing two per cent less than what was requested by the Union for 2024, and in an economy where the Government can afford to pay public servants and teachers much more.
According to the International Financial Institutions (IFI) Guyana is ranked the world’s fastest growing economy and the richest per capita. In 2024 Guyana will earn no less than US$2.8 Billion in oil and gas revenue. In 2024 the Government of Guyana passed a GY$1.146 Trillion National Budget and returned in July for Supplemental Spending in excess of GY$40 Billion.
Meanwhile cost of living is soaring, and prices for basic items such as food have increased in some instances by more than 200 per cent.
Some of the benefits in the agreement are:
- station allowances increased to 108 per cent. But this will only benefit teachers who are are stationed out of their areas.
- Clothing allowance moved from $8000 to 15, 000 per year.
- Substantive senior master, mistress or above within three years of retirement who have not received a previous duty-free concession are entitled to acquire a motor vehicle up to 1500 cubic centimetres (CC). Teachers in the hinterland and riverine villages, can choose to purchase outboard engines and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). This does not benefit the majority of teachers
- Teachers will be paid for the marking and supervision of School Based Assessments (SBAs), and the National Grades Five and Six Mock Examinations.
- Teachers pursuing education at the University of Guyana or universities, through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), free of cost. Article 27 of the Constitution of Guyana guarantees the right to free education from nursery to university. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has been denying that right since 1994.
- Teachers or educators rehired after retirement to be paid at their last salary scale. The agreement is silent if the government must give local retired teachers first option to be hired rather than recruit from abroad.
- Remote Area Incentive (RAI) is now $32,000.
- All non-graduate teachers from TS 1A to TS 5B, irrespective of their status, will be paid two additional increments on their salary after three years of continuous service.
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2024 Teachers Strike. GTU’s photo
