GTU no show for peace talks with Gov’t

The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) did not show up for a meeting Friday with the Ministry of Education which was aimed at resolving the impasse on salary negotiations.

The Ministry of Social Protection had invited the two parties for a meeting at its Department of Labour Office for conciliation talks.

Such talks are usually aimed at peacemaking and are provided for under the Collective Labour Agreement.

The GTU, however, did not show up for the activity, which is a second attempt by the government to prevent teachers from going on a countrywide strike.

Union representatives were in Berbice continuing outreaches aimed at encouraging indecisive teachers to join the industrial action, which will commence on Monday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education said senior officials turned up for the meeting but left after the Union was a no-show.

The Ministry said the meeting was consequently adjourned to next week Tuesday.

News Room was unable to verify whether the Union had informed the respective parties that it will not be showing up for the meeting.

The Union decided to strike after the government failed to honour its request for a 40% across the board salary increase.

The Union’s President Mark Lyte says the strike action will run into the new school term unless the government improves its proposal for teachers to receive better salaries.

Efforts made by News Room to make contact with Lyte on Friday proved futile.