Justice Sandil Kissoon has granted permission to the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) to join the legal proceedings filed by the Guyana Teachers’ Union against the Government of Guyana. 

In the High Court today, the State’s Counsel, Darshan Ramdhani, argued that the GTUC against the umbrella union body joining the case, but the GTUC’s Attorney, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, told the Court that the Trade Union Congress had a legitimate and sufficient interest in the matter which was filed by the Teachers’ Union.

In arriving at his decision, Justice Kissoon said the Notice of Application and the Affidavit in Support of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, had detailed its interest and should not to be regarded as a “meddlesome busy-body”.

In the Affidavit in Support of the Notice of Application, the GTUC pointed out that it was the largest umbrella organisation of trade unions in Guyana, representing a total of 14 trade unions including the Guyana Teachers’ Union. 

It was noted that the case brought by the GTU touches on the issues of collective bargaining, and the legality of a strike, which are considered to be issues of concern for all trade unions.

Forde contended that the issues involve the examination of the nature of and extent of the Constitutional rights of association and assembly, and the Constitutional rights of trade unions to enter into Collective Agreements and their workers’ right to strike.

“The determination of the aforesaid significant and important legal issues would impact the operations of each of the constituent members of the Guyana Trades Union Congress and the rights of the approximately 27,000 Employees who are members of the members Unions of the Guyana Trades Union Congress,” Forde said. 

According to Forde, the Court also indicated that as part of its Judicial Review Proceedings, it has summons the Chief Labour Officer and the Federation of Independent Trade Union of Guyana (FITUG) to attend Court and to be made aware of the extant legal proceedings.

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