Dear Editor,
I read with interest, Mr Michael Sinclair’s missive (KN ‘Questionable happenings’ 2007-11-17, SN `The teachers’ union has no collective labour agreement with the ministry’ 2007-11-19) regarding Mr Lance Baptiste. The letter has raised a number of questions which should be addressed by the Guyana Teachers’ Union.
(a) According to the GTU constitution, can Mr Baptiste sign letters and other documents on behalf of the General Secretary of the union?
(b) Can Mr Baptiste legally enter schools without the permission of the Ministry of Education or without a letter from the General Secretary of the union and approved by the MOE to conduct union business?
(c) Can headteachers and ministry officials refuse to entertain Mr Baptiste if he has no written permission?
(d) What are the implications for the GTU of not having a collective labour agreement with the Ministry of Education?
These are some of the questions that someone at the Guyana Teachers’ Union needs to clarify.
Yours faithfully,
Samantha Ali
