GTU continues call for 40% salary increase

– awaiting debunching payment

The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) – with the aim of bargaining for increased wages for its public school teachers – is awaiting the Education Ministry to restart its salary negotiations so that teachers will, in the near future, be able to benefit from a 40 per cent increase in their current income.
Due to undisclosed reasons, the Ministry had postponed the negotiations until further notice, but the Union is hoping that these discussions resume in the near future so that the teachers could get a significant salary increase from what they have been subjected to over the years.
GTU General Secretary, Coretta McDonald, during an interview with Guyana Times, said there has been no indication from the Ministry thus far on whether the proposal for the increase has been agreed on.
Recently, the Union held the belief that the Ministry had postponed the negotiations because of the Local Government Elections held in March; however, a month has since passed following the elections and there still has been no indication of a decision being made.
The subject had initially been delayed in January due to the reading of the 2016 National Budget, however, with this current delay, it is being speculated by some that the Ministry is intentionally dodging the discussions.
It is worthy to note the statements made by Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine in the media, downplaying there being negotiations between his Ministry and the GTU over the 40 per cent salary increase. He essentially cited that both parties were basically discussing this issue. He also indicated that should the possibility of a 40 per cent salary increase be considered for teachers, then the nurses would then expect to be facilitated as such.
The Union has proposed for the year 2016-2020 a series of increases.
This, they say, is being projected with the aim of improving the financial stability of its teachers, who are the most significant figures within society.
The 40 per cent salary increase for public school teachers is proposed for the year 2016. Overtime, the percentage will be increased for all categories of its represented teachers.
For the year 2017, the Union is hoping to have bargains for a 45 per cent increase, which will then increase to 50 per cent for the remainder of the years indicated in the agreement (2018-2020).
Meanwhile, in regards to the debunching payment, where teachers will be eligible for one per cent of their salaries for each year beginning from 2011 to 2015, the Education Ministry had indicated to the Union that the lump sum cash would be paid at the end of the term. However, this proposal is still awaiting approval from Cabinet.
Among its list of proposals that are still in queue for a response are the duty free concessions that the Union has been making pleas for over the past few years.
The proposal had been reapproved by the Minister of State Joseph Harmon, earlier this year but since then there had been no further discussions on when or if this would be implemented.