By Nakasia Logan
The legal dispute between the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) reached a significant milestone as the conclusion of evidence-taking marked the end of this phase of the proceedings.
Now, both parties await the next step in the legal process – oral arguments before the court.
Over the course of three days, from Wednesday through Friday, witnesses were cross-examined before Justice Sandil Kissoon.
Following this, the matter was adjourned to April 10 for submissions on matters arising from the testimonies of witnesses.
Darshan Ramdhani, Legal Representative for the State, reiterated the government’s stance throughout the proceedings – “no work, no pay.”
Ramdhani emphasized that the principles behind this stance have been established in various Caribbean territories by the Privy Council.
He expressed confidence that the court proceedings would provide clarity on important matters, particularly for the industrial working class in Guyana.
Ramdhani provided insights into the Ministry of Education’s decision not to negotiate retroactively.
He highlighted that increases had already been granted to teachers for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Additionally, he emphasized that there was no fiscal space available for further retroactive increases.
These considerations were pivotal in the Ministry’s decision-making process.
The legal dispute originated from the union’s decision to embark on strike action during ongoing negotiations with the Ministry.
Subsequently, the Ministry announced that teachers on strike would not receive payment, prompting the union to file a legal challenge.
Mediation was ordered by the court but reached an impasse during the second meeting when the union walked out, citing concerns that financial matters were being disregarded by the Ministry.
However, it was later admitted under oath by the Union that financial matters were indeed being discussed during the mediation sessions.
As the legal proceedings continue, both the Guyana Teachers Union and the Ministry of Education await the court’s decision, which will have far-reaching implications for the education sector and labor relations in Guyana.