General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald said today that union members and the Government of Guyana will be meeting again on May 17 to discuss a plethora of issues, among them, the long-awaited salary adjustments for teachers.
The salary adjustments for teachers has been on the back burner for months, as teachers grapple with other important matters, including outstanding benefits and allowances.
It has been six months since President Irfaan Ali made a public announcement about the adjustment of salaries for all classes of public servants, including teachers. However, there is no indication as to when the promised adjustments will be made.
The GTU said the meeting between the two sides was cordial, but yielded no amount of satisfaction, as many questions remain unanswered. On May 17, several questions are expected to be answered by the administration.
McDonald told Guyana Standard that at the meeting last week, the question was raised about the salary adjustment. According to the GS, in response, Minister of Education Priya Manikchand said, “The President is a man of his word, and if he promises an adjustment it will happen. Be patient.” McDonald said this is the third request made about information pertaining to the promised adjustments.
McDonald also stated that violence in schools and outstanding benefits and allowances to teachers were among the issues that were raised with the administration.
Among those present at the meeting were Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag and Minister of Parliamentary and Governance Affairs, Gail Teixeira.
McDonald said she believes the meeting was called because the Union was organizing a “unwavering response” to the ministry’s unwillingness to meet the demands of teachers. While she hinted strike action, McDonald said that there is still little regard and respect for teachers.
Earlier this year, during a press conference, President Irfaan Ali said that the government was looking at salary increases in a holistic and phased manner. With regard to teachers and other classes of public servants. There was no timeline given for those increases.
“…adjustments will be announced at the appropriate time. The Government will never walk away from its commitment. The day for teachers will come.” President. Ali had said. He continued, “… Every category of worker will be addressed. We are starting from critical areas where there were a number of anomalies and that is how we are progressing.”
