Education Ministry, GTU meet to discuss teachers’ multi-year agreement

On Thursday August 9, 2018, a Ministerial team including Minister of Education Nicolette Henry, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally and Minister with responsibility for Labour Keith Scott met with the leadership of the Guyana Teachers Union to discuss the teachers’ multi-year agreement. Below are details of that meeting.

Ministry of Education (MOE) officials and Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) representatives during the second round of talks held on August 9, 2018

In Attendance were:

Government

1. Minister Amna Ally
2. Minister Nicolette Henry
3. Minister Keith Scott
4. Representative of Hon. Minister Roopnarine Ms. Sampson
5. Permanent Secretary (ag) Ms. Adele Clark
6. Chief Education Officer Mr. Marcel Hutson
7. Human Resource Manager Ms. Jacqueline Simon
8. Senior Personnel Officer Public Service Ms. Gail Williams
9. Legal Officer Ministry of Education Ms. Kelly-Ann Pryce Hercules
10. Technical Officer Ms. Simone Wills

Guyana Teachers Union

1. President Mark Lyte
2. First Vice President Ms. Lesmeine P. Collins
3. Treasurer Samantha Alleyne
4. Deputy General Secretary Ms. Jacqueline Douglas
5. Field Officer Mr. Lancelot Baptiste
6. RVP Essequibo Ms. Carmel Williams
7. RVP Berbice Ms. Donnette D’Andrade

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At the Conclusion of the meeting with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), the following was articulated by the respective officials:

Minister Amna Ally – indicated that while the Guyana Teachers Union demands are not unreasonable, consideration should be given to the economic status of the Government (what the Government can and cannot afford at this juncture). The Honourable Minister noted that this is not the end, but rather a continuous process, in which both parties should be planning and preparing for better times.

Minister Nicolette Henry – reiterated that the Ministry of Education will retain a specialist assist in determining the percentages of increase per category of teachers.  She noted that there are difficulties in honouring all the requests put forward by the Guyana Teachers Union but implored the Union representatives to be responsible enough to ensure that as many as possible if not all benefits from the new approach be carefully considered and accepted.

It was agreed that both teams will carefully consider what was discussed at the meeting and agree to a date for further discussions at the earliest possible time. The Ministry has listened attentively to the Guyana Teachers Union and expressed hope that the union equally pays close attention to the counterproposal offered.

The President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union related that their next step will be determined by suggestions from its members.