First day of Conciliation Talks Between GTU and MoE ends in deadlock

After meeting for more than six hours, the first day of concilliation talks between the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education ended in gridlock this afternoon, with the two sides failing to meet a compromise on the particulars to be discussed, including the timeline for the wage talks.

The meeting will continue tomorrow morning.

The two sides met at the Ministry of Labour on the invitation of Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine, who initiated the process following a request from the Ministry of Education.

The strike by teachers is continuing even as the talks got underway.

The Government continues to insist that it wants to discuss salary increases for 2024 and beyond, while boycotting the outstanding 2019-2023 proposal that was submitted by the GTU.

Today, the two sides were unable to arrive at an agreed position on the timeline for the increases, and terms of resumption.

However, new considerations are being examined.

“The Ministry returned with some new considerations, and the union put forward some new considerations. So, as I speak now, we have left the room with an understanding that we will return tomorrow to relook at the document with a few options to see if we can have an agreement on the way forward. So, nothing has been signed off, because there is still, at least one area to be fleshed out for the resumption,” GTU President Mark Lyte told reporters after exiting the meeting late this afternoon.

He said the Union is clear in its position that negotiations must be based on its multi-year proposal for the period 2019-2023.

Lyte said, however, that the Union is keenly analyzing the considerations of the Ministry of Education, and will act in the best interest of teachers.

“As a union, we want to be responsible, we want to ensure that there is enough consultation, so that whatever we decide to agree on with the ministry, that it wouldn’t be a hindrance to our members,” the GTU President said.

He noted that the Union has two options to choose from, and with talks advanced, it is possible for an agreement to be reached soon.

The GTU has made it clear that the outstanding proposal must be dealt with first, before discussions could begin on any new agreement.

The GTU has reminded the Government, through the Ministry of Education, of the High Court ruling by Justice Sandil Kissoon, who lambasted the Government for not engaging the union in collective bargaining, while blocking the administration from cutting the salaries of striking teachers.

With the strike action coming in the middle of the exams period, many parents have been urging the Government to meet with the GTU and begin collective bargaining on the outstanding agreement.