‘Political motives’ behind teachers’ strike – says AG Nandlall
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– highlights salary comparisons with other public sector employees
IN relation to the ongoing strike organised by teachers, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has expressed profound concerns regarding the political motivations fuelling the protest.
The strike, led by A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald, has been under scrutiny for its underlying intentions.
On Tuesday, during his weekly show, ‘Issues in the News,’ Nandlall maintained that teachers have the constitutional right to strike but questioned the grounds of the current action.
“The right to strike is a fundamental right guaranteed by our Constitution,” Nandlall stated, adding that “every right and every freedom must be exercised responsibly.”
The Attorney-General pointed to the overt political involvement in the strike, particularly highlighting McDonald’s active role.
“The main protagonist in this strike is a politician, Coretta McDonald… giving political commentary all day on social media about the strike. So, there is no doubt in my view that the strike is politically driven,” he said.
He criticised the union’s alignment with opposition parties, observing a unanimous endorsement of the strike actions without any critique.
“Not one of them has expressed any disagreement with anything that the union has said so far,” Nandlall remarked, indicating a clear “complicity between the union and the opposition.”
Addressing accusations of racism and division within the strike’s rhetoric, Nandlall accused McDonald of inciting divisiveness.
Nandlall also brought attention to the constructive dialogues that had been taking place between the GTU and the Ministry of Education prior to the strike.
According to him, these discussions were making progress, with more than half of the union’s demands already met and the remainder under consideration.
“The union and the ministry were in discussions… more than half of those demands have been met,” he stated, questioning the timing and rationale behind the sudden strike action.
Highlighting the significant salary increases for teachers under the current administration, Nandlall presented a stark comparison to previous pay rates.
“In 2019 and 2020… the trainee teacher salary was $12,466 a month… Do you know what it is now? $104,000,” he revealed, indicating a substantial increase in remuneration for educators.
Nandlall urged the public to consider these figures in the broader context of public sector employment, comparing teachers’ salaries and benefits to those of police inspectors and other government employees.
Teachers, he pointed out, not only receive competitive salaries but also enjoy benefits not afforded to other public servants, such as duty-free concessions and extended school holidays, which allow them significant time away from work.
The workload and time commitments of teachers were juxtaposed with those of other public sector workers, such as police inspectors and nurses, to underscore the favourable conditions under which teachers operate.
Nandlall stressed that when these factors are considered, the motivations behind the strike appear to be driven by interests other than mere employment conditions.
“I don’t want to persuade you in any direction… My objective is to put you in a position where you are better able to assess the information,” Nandlall stated, inviting the public to scrutinise the facts and draw their conclusions about the motivations behind the teachers’ strike.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, had dubbed that strike “dishonest” and “dishonourable” since the talks with GTU were ongoing and were never “broken down” as the narrative being peddled by the union
“The last meeting held was on the 31st of January 2024 with the next one scheduled for the 21st of February 2024. This is what makes the strike unlawful. And dishonest. And dishonourable,” the Minister said.
On the other side of the divide, other educators have voiced their disapproval of the GTU’s leadership and strategies.
They argued for a return to negotiations with the government and constructive dialogue to ensure that the educational needs of the nation’s children are met without further disruption.
They advocated for a more inclusive, and dialogue-driven approach to addressing the sector’s challenges, since the strike is not the way forward and a broader conversation is needed about the most effective ways to advocate for and support educators in Guyana.
McDonald has stated that potential salary deductions for participating teachers would not pose a problem, as “corporate sponsors” have committed to reimbursing affected educators.
However, specifics regarding these sponsors, the total funds pledged, and the planned distribution method remain undisclosed.
https://guyanachronicle.com/2024/02/08/political-motives-behind-teachers-strike-says-ag-nandlall/
