Education Ministry agreed to discuss, not green light 2019 to 2023 salary increases – Manickchand
Facing questions about the engagements between the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education, subject minister Priya Manickchand clarified on Wednesday that her ministry only agreed to “discuss” proposed salary increases for the 2019 to 2023 period.
And she said there was never an agreement to eventually green light some negotiated increase.
“An agreement to discuss is not an agreement about. A discussion was had,” Manickchand said while engaging reporters at the sidelines of an event on Wednesday.
Why did Manickchand address this?
Well, the Union and Education Ministry met for a second round of talks the day before, on Tuesday. But the GTU said talks collapsed because the government does not want to negotiate salary increases for the 2019 to 2023 payment period. Only increases for 2024, GTU President Mark Lyte said, were up for discussion.
The Education Ministry, however, maintains that increases for the prior years would have financial implications, and that the 2024 budget does not have the fiscal space to accommodate the retroactive payment of salaries for teachers during the period 2019 – 2023.
The GTU accused the Education Ministry of reneging on a commitment to negotiate the 2019 to 2023 increases. Manickchand, however, emphasised that there was an agreement to discuss those increases but not an agreement to eventually green light increases for those years.
Based on a copy of the minutes, seen by the News Room, it was noted that “Both parties agreed to meet on Tuesday, 12th of March 2024 at 09:30 h at the MoE Boardroom to discuss the following items: a.) The salary matters included in the multi-year proposal 2019 to 2023, b.) The 2% difference in salary for 2017 and 2018, c.) The clothing allowance increase, d.) Whitley Council being paid every 3 years.”
Manickchand also questioned whether it is reasonable to green light increases for those years since many teachers may have been home from 2020 to 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“…Different countries in this world reduced the pay of teachers in their country or stopped it completely because teachers were home.
“I know my teachers in this country were home and either 1.) concerned, or 2.) still trying to deliver education. This government, the PPP/C government, refused to even entertain docking teachers’ pay, (we) refused to cut it, stop it (or) reduce it,” Manickchand said.
So she quizzed whether it is “reasonable” for teachers to get increases for 2020, 2021 or 2022. Hours before, on Tuesday night, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC emphasised that teachers’ salary increases for years gone by cannot be discussed now. Instead, he said the government can negotiate and hopes to discuss salary increases for 2024.
Outside of the salary talks, Manickchand was keen on pointing out several new interventions pursued by her ministry to improve the welfare and reduce the workload of teachers.
