GTU is prepared to engage in "meaningful discussions" with the ministry, union President Sydney Murdock told a press conference in their Woolford Avenue, Georgetown headquarters.

But he said the union is adamant there can be no bargaining for this year until the issue of salaries for last year is settled.

Mr Murdock maintained there was no mutual closure of that matter and, therefore, the increases awarded for 2002 were a unilateral imposition by the ministry.

He said teachers are "prepared to go the full length if necessary" to achieve their demands and those in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) are calling for a shutdown of the entire school system but GTU is exercising restraint to give the ministry time to re-examine the situation.

Murdock rejected the ministry contention that GTU was responsible for the breakdown of arbitration talks because of its non-attendance at a meeting fixed for last December.

He said the Chief Labour Officer (Mohamed Akeel) wrote the union exonerating it of any responsibility for not attending the December 18 fixture.

Education Minister Dr Henry Jeffrey had pointed out that the ministry is not against arbitration but claimed, after the matter reached the top labour official and was not resolved, GTU failed to attend on December 18 to discuss arrangements and modalities for arbitrating.

Murdock said efforts to politicise the controversy will not succeed and insisted that the current strike has no political agenda.

"It is purely a bread and butter issue," he contended.

Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Hydar Ally said the ministry regards the action as "strictly industrial" and Murdock said Akeel, who has previously facilitated "two cordial meetings" between the parties, has signalled his willingness to continue facilitating the process.

GTU General Secretary Avril Crawford, speaking at the same press conference yesterday, said headteachers have received a circular informing them to deduct payments for the strike days, although the only legal documents that can be used to make such deductions are the absence/returns certificates submitted at the end of each month.

She said the use of any other method would be a breach of the standard regulations.

Ms Crawford explained, too, that deductions made during this month would be a further breaching of their agreement, because the documentation has to be submitted within seven days of the following month in a normal situation.

But, because the present spawns industrial action, methods relevant to industrial practices will be applied.

GTU officials expressed concern that paysheets for teachers in Region Four have been withheld after Jeffrey said, in accordance with the laid down procedures, teachers would not be paid for the days they strike.

On the question of teachers undertaking additional work to ensure that examination syllabuses are completed in time, GTU Past President Lance Baptiste said, if teachers are not going to be paid for days they are not on the job, they would not be obligated to "catch up" for lost time.

Murdock warned that the current two-day stoppages, which are to continue tomorrow and Thursday, will trigger more migration of teachers if the impasse is not expeditiously and adequately settled.

He said nothing is preventing the Minister of Labour from ordering arbitration in the interest of the children and the nation.