Strike off
One day after the strike began, the MoE made its first move against teachers by announcing its plan to discontinue the deduction of union dues on behalf of teachers. In a press release issued by the ministry on February 6, the MoE explained that the decision to cease deductions was made per a ruling by Chief Justice Ian Chang in the case of Guyana Public Service Union v Nanda Gopaul.
The release cited the ministry as labeling the industrial action unlawful, racist, and divisive. Further, it said that the majority of the union’s requests were agreed upon by the MoE, and the ministry implemented several initiatives to benefit teachers nationwide.
The ministry then took things a step further, on February 12, vowing to cut the salaries of striking teachers. In response to this, the GTU threatened and made good on its threat to take the government to court over the MoE’s actions.
After the union’s statement of claim against the state was filed on February 14, the government, through Attorney General
(AG) Anil Nandlall SC and its other legal representatives, made an application for a 14-day grace period to come up with a response. This was granted and the matter is set to be heard on March 20. Justice Kissoon, who granted the extension, also ruled that the status quo be maintained, thereby stalling the deduction of strike days from teachers’ salaries and maintaining the deduction of union dues, pending the outcome of the matter. It was these orders that eventually led to the Judge asking why there were no talks between the two sides and eventually ordering mediation.
On February 27, the CEO Hussain was summoned before Justice Kissoon after being found in contempt of court for issuing a circular which stated that teachers’ salaries will still be subject to deductions and that the court’s ruling was temporary. Hussain apologised to the judge, who, after accepting the apology, suggested that a mediation meeting be held in court between the two parties.
The GTU readily agreed to the meeting taking place the following day, but Nandlall asked the court for 24 hours to confer with his superiors before making a decision. The following day, despite
Nandlall’s disagreement with mediation, Justice Kissoon ordered that the meeting be held under the mediation of Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo and Robin Stoby.
The mediation meetings commenced on Friday and were adjourned in the afternoon and recommenced yesterday during which time the decision was made for teachers to return to the classroom. As the news of the agreement spread, Lyte took to the GTU FB page to officially encourage teachers to return to work.
In the comments section under his live video, some educators expressed doubt about the agreement and the resulting impending process. In response, Lyte explained to them that for collective bargaining talks to transpire teachers cannot be on strike. He encouraged them to return to their duties and to trust the process, adding that it was the talks that they had desired in the first place.
Meanwhile, in response to the agreement between the government and the union, President Irfaan Ali reposted the documents on his official Facebook (FB) page and expressed his approval.
“Exactly what I have been saying all along, no different! Return to work and allow the process that was ongoing to continue. Why was this so difficult? The same request the Ministry of Education and Government have been making continuously. As a responsible Government, we will continue to work in the interest of all workers,” Ali’s post was captioned. His statement ignored the facts that the government had refused to discuss salary increases with the union and that his own Ministry of Labour made no attempt to intervene and bring the strike to an end. The President also did not acknowledge that the government was opposed to mediation.
Resilient
Teachers from the ten regions across Guyana went out in their numbers daily, remaining resilient during the past four weeks, in their campaign for the government to agree to have collective bargaining talks with the union. Whilst students who were getting ready to sit the CSEC, CAPE, and NGSS exams were being deprived of teaching due to the strike, Ali had urged teachers to be patient with the government.
The president had further reminded teachers of his promise for incremental benefits. He also made note of the meeting he’d had with teachers last year to discuss benefits.
Furthermore, on Saturday, during a live broadcast, Ali called on the striking teachers to return to the classroom, stating that the government will not be bullied into negotiations. The mediation has opened the pathway to such negotiations.
In his statement, the president also pointed out that the government has had more than 25 meetings with the GTU since assuming office. This reaffirmation of meetings having taken place had been echoed by both the VP and Hussain, the latter in his response affidavit to the court on Sunday. Lyte has maintained that the agenda for these meetings merely discussed non-financial matters, contrary to what the union is seeking. The last of these meetings was held on January 31, just before the commencement of the strike.
The teachers strike was the most serious faced by this government since it took office in August 2020.