Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 17, 2016 News
Public school teachers will finally be able to receive the debunching monies that the Guyana Teachers Union
has for years been appealing for.
This information was shared by GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte, when asked to give an update of ongoing negotiations between the Ministry of Education and the Union regarding a multi-year remuneration package for teachers. The package being negotiated for will cover the period 2016-2020.
But payment of the debunching money was in fact part of an agreement that the GTU had with the previous administration. The monies should have been payable during the period 2011-2015. However, even after years of appeal which ended with protest action during the lead up to regional and general elections last year, the previous administration belatedly reneged on its commitment.
However, the current Government has decided to honour the promise of the previous administration which was detailed in the multi-year agreement which expired at the end of last year.
The debunching money is one that would see teachers being eligible for one per cent of their salaries for each year. “The Union and the Ministry have agreed to have the payout of one per cent of all teachers’ salaries beginning from 2011 to 2015…this means that for each month they will get one per cent of whatever salary they are receiving in that year ,” related Lyte yesterday.
He explained that this translates to a teacher who earns $100,000 in 2011 being entitled to $12,000 at the end of the year. This amount is expected to increase by five per cent each year over the five year period under the previous agreement. Teachers would also be eligible for an increased per cent if they were given a promotion. “All of that would have been taken into consideration to apply this one per cent,” said Lyte
According to Lyte too, “This would be for teachers who were active over the period. Even if a teacher retired in 2012 that teacher will be eligible for a portion of the debunching money; one per cent of their monthly salary in 2011 and 2012…for the period they would have worked.”
And based on the agreement with the Ministry, the debunching monies should be payable before the end of this school term, according to Lyte.
The GTU and Ministry are expected to continue negotiations for the multi-year agreement for teachers.
The Union is negotiating for a 40 per cent across the board increase in salary for teachers this year. The Union is hoping to negotiate for 45 per cent next year (2017) and 50 per cent for the following three years (2018-2020) for all categories of teachers.
In a proposal seen by this publication, the Union has taken into consideration inflation and made it clear that “Should there be inflation higher than the percentage agreed upon, then the teachers/teacher-educators must get the benefit of the difference.”
Added to this, the Union is advocating for an additional performance-based incentive of three per cent per annum, of the total teachers’ wage bill. Based on the proposal of the Union, it is expected that this will be paid to eligible teachers with effect from January 1, 2016, once the multi-year agreement is accepted and approved.
If the agreement under consideration is approved, teachers will also benefit from a monthly emotional/stress/risk allowance of $5,000, and all teachers who received duty free concessions will be granted a maintenance allowance of $7,000 monthly for their vehicles including cars, motorcycles and boats.
Further, the GTU is proposing that all teachers who are owners of motor vehicles be granted mileage when they are invited to meetings or to meet with officials at the Ministry of Education, and when they are required to attend Teaching Practice sessions organized by the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).
If the Union’s proposal is approved, teachers will also be eligible for double salaries in the month of December each year.
The extensive proposal brought to the negotiation table entails benefits for teachers teaching in hinterland areas, and addresses the need for scholarships and other non-salary issues.
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