GTU rejects 3% teacher salary offer, negotiations continuing
Guyana Chronicle
June 16, 2004
NEGOTIATIONS continued yesterday between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU) with regard to the increase in wages and salaries for teachers.
During the negotiations at the Industrial Relations Department of the Ministry of Labour, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ganga Persaud, said that after deliberating extensively on the proposals made by the union, the Ministry's offer on an increase stands at 3% across the board.
In response to this proposal, President of the GTU, Ms Avril Crawford said the union rejects the offer and if there is no way the Chairman of the proceedings - Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel - could convince the Ministry of Education that a better offer is necessary, then the union's attitude was a threat of moving to the next level, and as such, the entire meeting on negotiations was a waste of time for both parties.
To this, Crawford said she is not convinced that the Ministry wants the matter resolved quickly and wants to stall the proceedings.
After listening to both sides, the Chief Labour Officer said that a committee needs to be formed to examine the statistics and figures cited by the Union as well as the arguments put forward by the Ministry.
This move was agreed to by the Union and Persaud said that the Ministry is open to future negotiations, but stands at its present offer of a 3% increase in wages and salaries for teachers. (GINA)