Caribbean teachers rally behind embattled GTU

(Kaieteur News) – The Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) has launched a joint regional and international campaign in support of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), publicly condemning the Government of Guyana for its “ongoing, unjustified action” in unilaterally halting union dues deductions and disregarding judicial orders.

In an official statement issued by CUT President Sharon Kelsick, the regional body announced that it is taking immediate action to confront the government’s decision to suspend the check-off dues system. The dispute centers on the executive branch’s refusal to remit union dues, alongside its failure to adhere to decisions from both the high court and the Court of Appeal of Guyana ordering the process to be reinstated.

The CUT warned that the government’s refusal to collect and remit union dues threatens the stability of union representation in Guyana. Describing the standard check-off system as a “standard, legally recognised, and long-established mechanism that facilitates workers’ fundamental right to freedom of association,” the union declared that the unilateral suspension is an “overt attempt to undermine the financial stability, independence, and operational capacity of the GTU.” The statement further noted that such measures constitute a “direct violation of international labour standards, fundamental human rights, and the principles of fair industrial relations.”