Audited reports submitted at GTU annual...
“Just like how you’re saying that the law requires us to submit, the law requires that unions are engaged in collective bargaining and right there… there is a breach of the constitution by the government as well. You just wake up one morning and say that you’re not deducting when this has been an arrangement all along, and of course, if you’re doing that for GTU, then you have to do that for all the other unions and bodies.”
Since the government is yet to engage the union, the GTU said a decision was made to extend the strike. Several schools around Georgetown visited by this newspaper were without teachers and children on Monday. The schools visited include: Richard Ishmael Secondary, Cummings Lodge Secondary, New Campbellville Secondary, West Ruimveldt Secondary, North Georgetown primary, Carmel Secondary, South Ruimveldt Primary, Winfer Gardens Primary, St. Joseph
Secon-dary among others. However, children preparation for the NGSA, CSEC and CAPE examinations continue to face the consequences of the strike.
Meanwhile, the striking teachers resumed their picketing yesterday at the Ministry of Education on Brickdam. Among the popular chants were, “No negotiation, no resumption”, “Respect our union, teachers deserve better”, “Slippers on the ground, we not backing down”, “6.5, can’t work”, “Pay today, bruk today”, “Pay we sap, we nah come back”, “Goods in the market high high, and teacher’s salaries dry dry.”
Jennifer Basdeo-Green, doctor and wife of former Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, who was on the picket line in support of the striking teachers, told Stabroek News that talks about nation building must include human resources. “Human resource (teachers) brings the children to fruition of all potentials and as a result teachers need to be adequately compensated,” she emphasized.
“All this oil money, and we can’t find the money. I think that’s preposterous, I don’t think it’s a question worth answering, the answer is there. We have the money, it’s just a matter of putting the resources where they need to be put. I’m sure that we don’t want ten years down the road we have a set of uneducated people who are unable to benefit from what this country has to offer. It’s education that is going to do it. How are we going to have education if we don’t have teachers teaching? How can you teach properly if you are not adequately compensated? Who likes being on a hungry belly? Who likes watching eight eyes if you have four children looking at you and there is an empty plate? How can I go to school and teach after I have experienced that in my own home? How can I be kind to other people’s children when I can’t feed my own? The whole public sector needs to be properly remunerated. Teachers are nurses, psychologist, parents; all of these roles are fulfilled in the schools, whether we like it or not. So, you’re giving me this little bit of money to be a parent…. come on”, she urged.