Parents, guardians and students joined scores of teachers as they continued their strike action in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Thursday — the fourth day of countrywide protests for salary increases.
The protestors took to the streets of Linden in a march which commenced on the Wismar shore and concluded at Republic Avenue in Mackenzie.
Holding placards and chanting, they settled at the Linden-Georgetown Minibus Park, where parents and teachers shared their opinions regarding the strike.
Teachers had planned to agitate in front of the Education Ministry in Georgetown on Friday, but Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) General Council Representative for Region 10, Ferdinand McLeod, said the team was at the time awaiting word on the outcome regarding conciliation talks before coming to a decision. He noted that teachers will, however, assemble in continuation of the strike on Friday morning.
“Today was parents and guardians day. Right here in Region 10, along with our
A teacher holding a placard at the protest line on Thursday
teachers…they were all out here, showing their support (for) teachers…I am hoping that if the Government decides to make a proposal, it is a favourable one. And if it is not favourable, well then we will have to go straight to arbitration. But I just want this to finish, and at the end of it, let us all go back to school”, he said.
McLeod noted, however, that teachers plan to go back to school on Monday regardless of the outcome, but he stressed that in the end he wishes that teachers gain the respect they deserve.
He told teachers, parents and guardians that whatever the outcome of Thursday’s meeting, teachers and students need to return to school on Monday, agreeing to the Terms of Resumption.
He told teachers that according to the terms, their salaries should not be cut, nor should any teacher be demoted. McLeod said that should anything otherwise occur, the Union is ready to support teachers.
“According to what happens at the meeting this afternoon, we’re going to know what is going to happen tomorrow; because we had planned to go to Georgetown. So, depending on the outcome of the meeting, we will know what will happen. (It’s) more than likely we’re going back to school on Monday, because conciliation or arbitration, we will go back to school… It’s not that we want to be here, but they
A group of teachers and parents assemble after the march
have to start respecting teachers.
“So I do hope that after this, people start looking at us differently; start looking at us as indeed the moulders that we are; start looking at us as the ones who built every other profession that there is…,” he told this publication afterwards.
The GTU Representative also called for better treatment of teachers by Education Officers, as well as for zero victimisation following strike action.
