The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education have agreed to a number of non-financial measures, paving the way for discussions on the critical issue of salary increases and other financial benefits for teachers in the public Education Sector to move ahead.

GTU’s General Secretary, Coretta McDonald told News Source today that the agreement was reached during the first round of negotiations that took place last Thursday, following the end of the 75-day long strike, that rocked the Education Sector.

Non-salaried issues include duty free concession for some 300 teachers, the provision of 100 scholarships, hinterland benefits, conditions for reemployment, housing and a number of welfare issues.

“The first meeting was very cordial. Of course, we had our proposal, we spoke, we had our back-and-forth disagreements, and eventually we agreed to quite a lot of what was agreed on last Thursday,” McDonald said. 

As the negotiations continue, the GTU General Secretary said she would not be able to divulge particulars of the agreement reached on the non-financial matters.

However, she said the Union is looking forward to next Thursday’s meeting, when the sides are expected to begin to hammer out salary increases for teachers, along with a number of other financial matters. 

The GTU has proposed a 39.5% salary increase for teachers on Scales 1 to 3 for 2024, and an additional 30% for 2025 and 2026, respectively. Additionally, the Union is pushing for other teachers within the public education sector, particularly those on Scales 4 to 19, to receive a salary increase of 35% for 2024, and additional 30% for 2025 and 2026, respectively. 

The proposals by the GTU were put forward in a proposed Memorandum of Agreement submitted to the Ministry of Education covering the years 2024 to 2026.

McDonald said in arriving at its proposals, the GTU took a number of social and economic factors into consideration. 

“We at the GTU, as a matter of fact, the teachers across this country they are dedicated, they are committed and because of their dedication, commitment and resilience, that’s why we are still in this country, that’s why we are still in the schools because we love what we do. Outside of loving what we do, we still have to live, we still have to eat, we have to wear, we have to go places of relaxation, which is not a whole lot and so the GTU over the years, we have been championing the cause for free, fairness within the Education Sector; we have been championing the cause for just pay and equality, and that’s the reason we have been pushing for agreements, upon agreements,” McDonald said. 

The multi-year proposal also includes a number of additional financial measures including a performance-based incentive of 2% per annum, an annual health/risk allowance of $25,000, and monthly internet/mobile data allowance of $10,000 to be paid to all teachers, among other benefits. 

The GTU General Secretary said the Union hopes that with its decision to shelve the earlier multi-year proposal covering 2019-2023, the Government will find favor with the new proposal agreement and act in the best interest of teachers. (Svetlana Marshall)

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