The Guyana Trades Union Congress has rubbished Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s contention that Coretta McDonald is ineligible to serve as a General Secretary for the Guyana Teachers Union, because of her position as a Member of Parliament.

In a statement today, General Secretary of the GTUC, Lincoln Lewis, accused the Vice President of continuing to act recklessly on national matters of grave import that require seriousness, integrity, accountability, respect for citizens’ rights and the rule of law.

The GTUC reminded that the GTU’s Constitution allows for all teachers to become members of the union, noting that Coretta McDonald is a teacher and is therefore eligible to serve as a member of the union and as its General Secretary.

The umbrella union body said the Vice President’s concern should centre more about the needs of the nation’s teachers who have been on strike for the past ten days.

According to the GTUC, the issues that led to the current industrial action by teachers are the Government’s failure to respect the workers’ right to collective bargaining through the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU),  the abrogation of its obligation under the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Act to treat with the Union in good faith, and violation of the Labour Law to conciliate and arbitrate on the existing grievances. 

The GTUC said had those matters been addressed, the teachers would have been in the classrooms and not on the picket line.

Further, the GTUC said the Vice President’s statements and his behavior regarding the union and its officials are tantamount to interference into the internal affairs of the trade union which contravenes the conventions of the International Labour Organisation.

The Government has been maintaining its position that the strike by teachers is political, even as teachers across the country continue to stay away from the classroom.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is urging the Government to meet with the Union and resolve the teachers’ grievances which are just and legitimate. 

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