Teachers again took to the streets around across the country yesterday in support of the GTU’s strike over the Government’s failure to engage in free collective bargaining since August 2020.
The government yesterday retaliated by announcing an end to deduction of membership dues on behalf of the union. The teachers strike is expected to last two weeks.
As was the case on Monday, teachers went out in their numbers, teaching tools down and armed with placards to chant their displeasure at the 6.5% public servants increase and other issues like the $8000 uniform allowance. Those in Georgetown again convened in front of the Ministry of Education (MoE)’s Brickdam office whilst those in Linden again met in front of the Citizens Bank branch and walked to the Education Department on Republic Avenue.
Those in Region Two once again marched and assembled at the Anna Regina Multilateral High School and in Region Three teachers took up their position outside the Department of Education office on the “West Side”.
Meanwhile, reports reaching this newspaper revealed that a significant number of teachers participated in the strike in Mabaruma, Region One. Those who took part in protests in this hinterland area met in front of the Department of Education and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), equipped with their placards.
Mabaruma’s Guyana Teachers Union (GTU General Council representative Ronald Cox told Stabroek News, during a telephone interview, “we wish to debunk the claim by the RDC that schools are in normal session”.
On the contrary, Cox noted that all teachers from the White Water, Sts. Peter & Paul, St. Mary’s, and Wauna Primary Schools along with Wauna and Mabaruma Nursery Schools are participating in the planned industrial action. Additionally, yesterday saw 91%, 72%, 60%, and 30% participation from teachers attached to Sacred Heart Primary, North West Secondary, Hosororo Primary, Yarakita Primary, and Mabaruma Primary Schools, respectively.
Cox related that the turnout to protest was “very large” due to the well thought-out strategy. He added that those who did not venture out to the streets remained at home as a means of showing their support for the strike.
“We provided transportation for those from afar and we also provided fuel for those from the riverain communities,” he explained while adding that there was 100% turnout the day before because “we had our meeting before heading to the road”.
Whilst the GTU and teachers remain on strike in the hope of a favourable response fromt the MoE and other relevant authorities, the ministry’s Facebook (FB) page has been flooded with photos depicting classrooms and schools seemingly in session as per normal. However, the comments section under these posts saw teachers, parents, and other members of the public ridiculing the MoE’s actions. These actions, commenters described as the ministry working overtime to prove that the strike wasn’t affecting students instead of meeting with teachers to discuss better wages. Members of the public further urged the MoE to pay the teachers what they deserve.
Under one particular post, where the ministry showcased a classroom in the Corentyne Comprehensive High School being in session, a teacher at the same school, by the name of Jaya Seerattan, debunked the photo as being deceptive.
“This is my classroom, Grade 8B, however those are not my Grade 8B students. It looks like the entire level ‘Grade 8’ merged into my classroom. Stop deceiving the public,” Seerattan stated.
Another teacher from the same school, Subrina Ramnanan confirmed Seerattan’s declaration by commenting in the thread, “a few of my 8A students are in your class too, Miss”.
Seerattan further commented that she has yet to see one of her students in said photo, in which the background portrayed an empty classroom next door. The comments from these two teachers, who seemed to be on strike, were later removed from the post.
Late yesterday, both the opposition APNU+AFC and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) issued press statements in support of the GTU’s industrial action, stating that it is their right to take collective action for their entitlement to a decent living wage. The Opposition Coalition stated that they are committed to reversing all punitive measures instituted by the People’s Progressive Party /Civic and prioritize teacher’s needs if they assume office. They also condemned the MoE for neglecting the union’s concerns and undermining the legitimacy of the teachers’ representatives.
On the other hand, the WPA condemned the government’s heavy-handedness towards striking teachers, labeling it as the worst form of neo-colonialism. The WPA further demanded that the government pay the teachers a living wage and accused the government of undisguised discrimination against a category of workers who do not belong to its political constituency. The party then urged all Guyanese to rally around the teachers and called on the government to heed the union’s call for arbitration as a first act of good faith.
This is the most serious strike that the government has faced since it took office in August 2020 and will be seen as a personal blow to President Irfaan Ali who has engaged directly with teachers in what was seen as an attempt to undercut the GTU.
During an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald noted that though in some areas there wasn’t a large turnout, teachers were still on strike but remained at home.
While the MoE praised and expressed gratitude to those teachers who chose not to participate in the strike, McDonald also had a message for them.
“I would want to say to them, this action is not for one or two or three sets of teachers. This action is for all teachers. And when we would have been able to derive the benefits coming out of this action. All teachers will benefit. Every single teacher will benefit, even those who are saying that they don’t trust the union, they will also benefit,” she said.
