Dear Editor,
The negotiation outcomes and, moreover, the now signed agreement between the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the government leave much to be desired. It has ignited a wave of grave disappointment and frustration among our educators.
Under the leadership of Dr. Mark Lyte and his executives, the GTU secured what has been touted as a 10% salary “increase” along with a few other “benefits” for teachers. However, upon closer inspection, these gains appear to be negligible at best and fail to address the deeper structural and fundamental issues facing teachers in Guyana.
Several days ago, I painstakingly watched and listened to the president of the Guyana Teachers Union, Dr. Mark Lyte, who in some “cunningly smart” way tried to persuade teachers and, in some regard, members of the public that teachers got a good offer in the union’s negotiation with the government. “You have to look at the whole package,” he said.
Utter nonsense! In retrospect, his actions today seem premeditated. From the outset, I give him and his team a mark of full no confidence for accepting and trying to represent such gains.
Dr. Mark Lyte and his executives, including some who are now seeking to distance themselves from the process, should all pack their bags and go. Many of them can no longer speak for me as a teacher and fellow member of the GTU, and I am confident that many of my colleagues will agree with me.
One of the most contentious aspects of the recent negotiations and now accepted positions is the paltry 10% salary “increase” offered—a “hollow victory.” While on the surface this may seem like a positive development, it falls short when contextualized against the high cost of living, inflation, and the long-standing financial struggles of our teachers.
A meager, insignificant 10% increase over an extended period does little to offset the economic challenges our teachers face, particularly when their salaries have stagnated for years. The proposed increment appears more symbolic than substantive, offering a temporary “salve” rather than a meaningful solution to the financial hardships endured by our teachers.
Moreover, this minuscule raise does not address the broader issue of equitable compensation for teachers, given our country’s strong economic position. In a profession that is central to the development of the nation’s future, this proposed 10% increment feels more like an insult to the dedication and hard work of teachers, who continue to operate in challenging conditions with limited resources—a reality the GTU president and team seem to forget. Instead of a progressive step forward, this lack of a real increase reinforces the undervaluation of our teachers and the teaching profession, now by our very own.
In addition to the salary increase, the GTU president highlighted what he deemed other “achievements,” such as the rise in uniform allowance from $8,000 to $15,000 per year. However, this “increase” is marginal when viewed in the context of the last adjustment, which occurred in 2006. A mere $7,000 increment spread over nearly two decades reflects a lack of serious commitment and representation in improving the welfare of our teachers by the GTU’s collective leadership. This negligible enhancement in the allowance does little to alleviate the financial burdens on teachers, who continue to struggle with the high costs associated with this noble profession.
Similarly, the announcement of scholarships for teachers to pursue diplomas or master’s degrees at the University of Guyana, while seemingly positive, is another area of serious concern. The GTU should have aimed for a more ambitious target, advocating and making real representation for a more substantial portion of the 40,000 scholarships the government has pledged to offer. Ensuring that thousands of teachers receive scholarships would have a transformative impact on the education system and the lives of our educators, enhancing the quality of teaching and contributing to their professional development and nation-building. By accepting a modest number of scholarships in a restrictive field of study, the GTU leadership has once again settled for mediocrity rather than pushing for substantial, long-term benefits for teachers. The more qualified our teachers are in different fields of study, the better the education sector, and by extension the nation’s youth and country, will be.
The other supposed benefits are not sufficient for me to offer additional comments.
It is important to note that at the heart of these shortcomings is the leadership of the GTU, which appears to have failed to effectively represent the interests of teachers. Dr. Mark Lyte’s defense of the negotiated benefits comes across as an attempt to justify the union’s inability to secure meaningful gains for its members. Rather than being a bold advocate for teachers, the GTU leadership seems to have capitulated to the government’s minimal offerings, leaving teachers feeling abandoned, duped, hoodwinked, and disillusioned.
May I remind the entire leadership of the GTU—none is excluded—that the role of our union, which we the membership entrusted you with, is to fight relentlessly for the rights and welfare of our members. The GTU’s recent actions suggest that the leadership is out of touch with the realities of the needs of our teachers. This has led to a growing sense of no confidence in the union’s ability to represent its members effectively. Dr. Lyte’s leadership and that of his entire executive team are now being questioned.
I put it to the failure of the GTU’s leadership that it is only through strong, principled leadership that you can regain the trust of our members and ensure that teachers receive the respect and compensation they rightfully deserve.
Let’s face it—you all got outplayed by the government because you lack foresight.
Our teachers need more money. They deserve it.
Yours respectfully,
Jermaine Figueira, MP.
