The Government is prepared to defend its recent decision to deduct monies from the salaries of striking teachers in court, according to Anil Nandlall, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs during his “Issues in the News” series.
“The Government’s position is that that the strike is unlawful. I have been following this strike from the beginning, obviously with a view of examining the legal implications arising therefrom, and I have pronounced from the inception that the strike is illegal and is politically inspired and driven. And nothing that I have seen subsequently has caused me to question my conclusion,” said the AG.
He noted that the Ministry of Education was still engaging with the Guyana Teachers’ Union just a few days before the strike was called. Additionally, he stated that 60% of the requests made by the Union were met.
According to him, the Ministry has made requests for additional time to consider the demands. Considering this, as well as the written engagements between the Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers’ Union, the two bodies were still in talks of negotiation.
Nandlall posited that that the GTU-led strike was in breach of the terms of engagement and is an expression of bad faith.
As for the striking teachers, he emphasized that they have a “freedom to strike, not a right to strike”. Responsibilities and conditionalities are attached to that freedom, according to the Attorney General.
“If you decide to exercise that freedom, then you have to bear the responsibility or responsibilities and bear the conditionalities and burdens that go with that freedom.”
Accordingly, one of the attached burdens and conditionalities is the “right of the employer to deduct wages from the worker who has decided to strike and who is absent from work without authorization, leave or permission.”
Nandlall also highlighted the political figures such as Opposition Member of Parliament Coretta Mc Donald and veteran trade unionist Lincoln Lewis and the prominent roles they play in orchestrating the strike action.
These “anti-PPP, anti-Government” individuals that are “masquerading” as union leaders are more grounded in politics than the interests of the workers