Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, made this disclosure at his weekly news conference yesterday.

According to the HPS, Cabinet was advised at its meeting last Tuesday that discussions between the Ministry and the GTU have so far concentrated on proposal of wages and salaries for 2003.

Responding to how helpful intervention by the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security would be in the context that the union is dissatisfied with the percentage of salary increase being offered by the Ministry of Education, Dr. Luncheon opined that it would help to reduce tensions between the two sides. He further contended that the experiences, especially of the Chief Labour Officer in dealing with disputing factions, would facilitate the forging of common and acceptable grounds to continue negotiations in an amicable manner.

Cabinet is expectant that the intervention by the Labour Department would bring positive results, but should it fail to do so, the matter would proceed to the next stage in accordance with the industrial grievance procedure.

The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) as indicated has written to the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security seeking its intervention in the present negations with the Ministry of Education on salaries for 2002-2004, citing its dissatisfaction with the “rate of progress” at the talks.

Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Dale Bisnauth in a comment to the Chronicle last Tuesday confirmed that the GTU wrote to his Ministry seeking intervention.

However, Dr. Bisnauth said his Ministry cannot intervene at this stage because the two parties have not reached an impasse. He reiterated that he had indicated to the two sides that his Ministry is prepared to provide conciliation services, should there be an impasse during negotiations between the two parties.

The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of talks with the Ministry of Education following their meeting last Monday.