The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) is disappointed with the Ministry of Education’s final offer on salary increases, saying it is basically the same as previously reported.

GTU Administrator/Field Officer Lancelot Baptiste said yesterday

that “the proposal” put forward by the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Ganga Persaud in a letter dated July 1 was as follows:

(1) $50M to be used to bring those teachers who are below the Public Service minimum wage up to same for 2003;

(2) $15M to be factored into 2003 to close the dispute over 2002 (salaries);

(3) the sum of $60M for Whitley Council leave for 2003;

(4) an increase of 3% for all teachers in the Guyana Public education system.

In his letter, Persaud said the ministry “looks forward to our continued effort to improve the working conditions of our teachers subject to the availability of resources.”

Stabroek News understand that the GTU President, Sydney Murdock has responded to the ministry’s proposal but Persaud told Stabroek News at press time yesterday, via his secretary, that he had not received the union’s response.

Baptiste said that as far as the union was concerned the proposal made was even more confusing as the issues were to bring closure to 2002. The union had been negotiating the Whitley Council leave for 2002 and not 2003.

The ministry’s proposal was in keeping with a promise Persaud had made to present the final offer in writing to the union within 48 hours of the Monday meeting. (Miranda La Rose)