Ministry of Education's current position on GTU Negotiations

Ministry of Education

Permanent Secretary

26 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel:# 592 226-38911 Fax# 592 226-3891 I P.O. Box 1014

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August 30, 2018

Ministry of Education 

Position Paper to the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour

With reference to the Guyana Teachers Union ("GTU") "Brief to the Labour Department" stemming from the meeting held on August 29, 2018 comprising all parties, and having carefully reviewed GTU's position, the Ministry of Education hereby tenders the following submission to the Labour Department.

The Ministry of Education's position regarding the dispute with the Guyana Teachers Union follows:

• The Ministry of Education is of the considered view that given the general scope and ambit of the conciliatory process as clearly set out in Section 4 of the Labour Act Cap 98:01, that the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour should endeavour to exhaust all avenues within this stage in an effort to bring the matter to an amicable settlement.

• The Guyana Teachers Union strike, should be called off entirely given the fact that the conciliatory process have not yet concluded as the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour is yet to make an official pronouncement on the conciliatory stage as mandated by said section of the Labour Act.

• That against those bases outlined above, both the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union should agree to terms of resumption which are to be mutually acceptable.

The Ministry of Education's proposed terms of resumption are:

1. That both parties be given the opportunity to continue the process of and benefit from conciliation in accordance with what the Labour laws contemplate.

2. That as far as practicable both parties shall endeavour to work together during the conciliatory process.

3. That for the subsistence of the conciliatory process and until the conclusion of the matter by way of amicable settlement, there will be no loss of pay and/or seniority.

4. That for the subsistence of the conciliatory process and until the conclusion of the matter, the Guyana Teachers Union will not contemplate, undertake or proceed to any strike action.

5. That there shall be no form of victimization by either party.

6. That all public statements arising out of any process henceforth must be accurate and shared between the parties prior to circulation and official publication by any medium.

7. That prior to the resumption of work, both parties shall agree to the chairmanship of an arbitration panel or tribunal should the Minister of Social Protection, Department of Labour so decide.

Ministry of Education!