Education Ministry “surprised” at GTU’s strike notice, ready to engage Union
In response to the strike notice from Dr. Mark Lyte, President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Shanielle Hoosein-Outar, has expressed surprise at its content and proposed actions.
In a letter to the Ministry dated May 07, 2024, Dr. Lyte stated that the GTU would resume strike action from Thursday until further notice and even accused the government of breaching labour laws for refusing to engage in collective bargaining with the union.
“As indicated before, the Government of Guyana stands ready to continue engaging the Guyana Teachers' Union on the Multi-year Agreement from 2024 onwards,” Hoosein-Outar stated in her response to the GTU’s President.
The GTU initiated a strike action in February, which came to a halt after five weeks following a court mediated process. The process saw the government and the Union at the bargaining table.
However, talks between the two parties broke down after the Ministry indicated that there was no fiscal space in the 2024 budget to accommodate teacher salary increases from 2019 to 2023.
Last month, High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon ruled that the teachers’ strike commenced in February was lawful and enshrined in the fundamental right to collective bargaining.
He barred the government from deducting salaries from the striking teachers or stopping the deduction of union dues. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall said the government will appeal the ruling.
