…as it awaits word from President, Harmon on the way forward
Even as the suspense prolongs, the Guyana Teachers Union’s (GTU) patience is running thin as it awaits response from President David Granger and Minster of Sate Joseph Harmon, on the way forward, concerning issues afflicting the Union and its teachers.
With the saga continuing to intensify between the Union and its counterpart, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), President Granger is still to issue a formal response to the GTU.
In February, the President had finally replied to one of the Union’s letters, highlighting his intent of getting involved to restore professionalism and calm.
Speaking with Guyana Times, General Secretary of the GTU, Coretta McDonald, stated that the Union has been awaiting a reply from the President on the way forward with the TSC, but this has thus far “gone down in vain.”
McDonald related that President Granger had indicated to the Union via letter that a solution can only be derived once consultations were carried out between himself and the Education Ministry.
Aside from the request for the President’s intervention, the Union had taken the matter to the court of law in an attempt to arrive at afeasible solution. This case is said to be still ongoing in the court.
However, as they await a reply from the President and the judgment of the court, the Union continues to have discussions on the way forward as a body.
McDonald cited that only recently, the Union had its biannual conference with teachers across the region, where the matter was discussed.
Although not divulging the outcome of those discussions, she however said that the Union had agreed on a proposal outlining the powers the Union has and how it can use its power to address the matter. She added that a meeting will be convening shortly between the union and its Attorney to discuss the proposal.
Duty-free concessions
Meanwhile, the GTU has also indicated that it is still expecting Minister Joseph Harmon to finalise the decision to reintroduce the duty-free concessions.
After years of proposing the renewal of the duty-free concessions for head teachers and their deputies, it was finally reapproved in February.
This decision was announced following a meeting between the GTU and Minister Harmon.
When this had been announced, 87 head teachers and 46 deputies were indicated to be the first batch of beneficiaries of the restarted project, which was signed in 2011 to cover the years 2011-2015.
Over the years, more than 200 names of eligible teachers were submitted for the duty-free concession benefit, but these were overlooked, even after negotiations.
The decision had come even as the Union had threatened to take industrial action since its proposals were being ignored even though there were active discussions with the Administration.
