GTU feels betrayed, says ministry violated MOU

Nov 05, 2010 Sports

Colin Bynoe

– continues freeze on National Schools’ C/ships

The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) feels that the suspected non-involvement of their officers in the investigation process surrounding the Neesa Gopaul issue betrayed the hand-in-glove method that was propagated in the National Schools’ Championships.
The Union is reacting to the Ministry of Education’s decision to discipline three teachers after an investigation that was carried out in the absence of GTU officials. As a result, the Union is of the view that the ministry undermined their collaborative efforts.
The National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships, which is set for November 9-12 at the National Stadium this year is a joint initiative between GTU and Ministry of Education and that relationship currently seems threatened.
“What we did was to let the Minister (of Education, Shaik Baksh) know that the Ministry of Education stabbed us in the back as it relates to our cordial relationship,” Colin Bynoe told Kaieteur Sport yesterday at his Woolford Avenue Headquarters.
He said the Union is disappointment in what he called the “flawed investigation process”, which was conducted. Until there is an amicable outcome, Bynoe said that the Union has withdrawn all of its services from the management of the Schools’ Championships.
“There is an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the Union and the ministry that clearly states that if you are going to investigate, you must involve officers of the Union,” Bynoe indicated, following a press conference.
According to the GTU President, the Grievance Procedures of the 1990 MOU was violated. He mentioned that the minister has agreed to meet with the Union again following consultation with lawyers and the Chief Labour
Officer on the subject.
“We have worked feverishly to have these Championships off the ground and behind all this they conducted an investigation and charged our teachers not allowing us part of the process. Because of this falseness we have decided to pause,” Bynoe said.
“Though GTU has put a pause on its services to the Schools’ Championships, it does not mean that the teachers can’t work, after all, they are employed at the Ministry of Education; they have that choice, but if they do, it will be at their own risk,” he added.
Bynoe reiterated that the onus is on the ministry to settle the dispute since the Union is prepared to continue its work with the National Schools’ Championships. He said that the ministry cannot fault the Union with its previous commitment to the event.