The Private Sector Commission will be meeting next week to discuss whether there is a role for the Commission, as a mediator, to bring an end to the nationwide strike by teachers.

The strike by teachers has been ongoing for the past two weeks, leaving many classrooms across the country empty.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Komal Singh today said the Commission would be willing to meet with both the Government and the GTU separately to discuss the outstanding issues that have caused the strike action.

However, he told News Source this afternoon that the PSC would meet first to discuss and determine a way forward and any possible role that it could play.

“The Private Sector will be meeting next week to discuss that matter, and after that, we will be able to state our position, where we are at the moment,” the PSC Chairman said. 

Asked about the impact the two-week strike has had on the Private Sector, the PSC Chairman insisted that the Commission should meet first before the Commission makes any other pronouncements on the issue.

In a Facebook live this morning, the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte said 10 days after the strike was initiated, there has been no movement by the Government to return to the negotiating table to discuss an increase in salaries for teachers. 

Last Friday, the union wrote to the Government, through the Ministry of Education, laying down the grounds for resumption of work, but to no avail.

Lyte said the Government, must now formally reach out to the Union to initiate talks, and its failure to do so, could see a continuation of the strike action.

Noting that the strike is impacting all sectors of the population, including the Private Sector, Dr. Lyte called on the PSC to intervene. 

“The Private Sector is vocal in a lot of areas. It is time the Chair of the Private Sector engage government to let good sense prevail, and to treat with this important matter,” Lyte said.

The GTU President said the strike is not only affecting teachers, but students and parents as well as the private sector and the transportation sector are all feeling the impact.

Related posts:

GTU to offer teachers partial strike relief for lost salaries during strike action Linden Teachers fully onboard GTU’s call for strike action GTU and Education Ministry to meet today on salaries for teachers as strike looms Teachers Union to consider Education Ministry’s invite to new meeting as strike looms