A call for all teachers to wake up and make a difference

Feb 22, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,

I voice my disappointment at the Executive Members of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) for an action that was perpetrated recently.

A correspondence was sent to my school, informing the staff of a G T U-branch meeting that was to be held on February 4, 2010. The correspondence did not have an agenda for the meeting. Nevertheless, I was one of two teachers from my school who attended the meeting since my school already had an activity planned for that afternoon.

Surprisingly, at the meeting, I learnt that an election process that was facilitated in November 2009, for Branch Officers by some executive members of the GTU was deemed null and void by the General Council body of the union, (the highest decision-making body of the union) because voting by proxy was allowed.

I continued to be disappointed because a new election process was ordered by the General Council but the said officers along with some teachers of the Branch made a decision that the said body that was voted in by proxy continue to head the branch, thus disregarding the council’s order.

My questions are:

1) What power the general council body has when its own executive members show blatant disregard for its ruling?

2) Under what electoral conditions are our executive members elected?

3) Is it the same proxy system, or are there other ways the teachers are yet to imagine?

We are suppose to be moulders of the nation, what messages are we sending out. It hurts to see the battle between teachers for what is right against what is wrong. North Georgetown is supposed to be the senior branch of the GTU, come on teachers we should be able to do better.

An election for Central Executive Officers is soon to be held. The position for president is well contested because of the misfortune of Mr. King (sadly). However, the position for the general secretary and treasurer remain unopposed (Lord help us).

It is therefore a call for all teachers to wake up and make a difference. It is because of your lack of interest in union activities others are allowed to feel comfortable and thus become complacent in representing teachers adequately.

Executive members can find the time to instigate and accommodate illegal electoral processes but cannot find the time to visit schools to examine teachers working conditions, get bursaries for UG, CSEC and SSEE out on time, pay death benefits to teachers in a timely manner, explain to the teaching fraternity the purpose of $1,000,000 disappearing from the treasurer’s office nor come up with innovative activities that would encourage teachers to be more closely connected to their union.

It is my view, that the union is headed for doom. We owe ourselves to save it.

Teachers your ballot will be with you soon, make a difference by ensuring you cast your vote and not others for you. Your conscious decisions might be able to make a difference.

Concerned Teacher

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A call for all teachers to wake up and make a difference

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