Grenada: The Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) announced that approximately 1,800 government-employed teachers will be getting a salary increase of 13% from 2023 to 2025. The signing of the new collective agreement took place on Wednesday, and Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell was present to witness it.
During the event, Mitchell expressed his gratitude towards the teaching profession for their contribution to society, emphasizing that a formal education system is essential for growth and development, and teachers play a crucial role in this process. Mitchell, who is also the Finance Minister, acknowledged the importance of teachers in maintaining a civilized society.
The GUT President, Jude Bartholomew, described the signing of the new collective agreement as a historic moment since it is rare for such agreements to be signed within a short period of four months.
He emphasized that teachers play a crucial role that goes beyond monetary compensation and fringe benefits, and their contributions should be appreciated.
He also acknowledged the importance of healthy debates and disagreements in industrial relations while emphasizing the need to ensure fairness for teachers, who are employees of the state.
The GUT President acknowledged that historically, unions like the GUT have had to resort to street protests, labour commissions, and other forms of mediation to secure salary increases.
He described the signing of the new collective agreement as a historic moment that he appreciates and recognizes. However, he also acknowledged that the new agreement might not cover everything that was initially requested by the GUT.
He emphasized the importance of negotiation and compromise, stating that it is possible to reach a common understanding that puts everyone in a good place, even if all demands cannot be fully met.
According to Bartholomew, teachers will receive a 4% increase in salary for the 2023-24 period and a 5% increase for 2025 as per the new agreement.
He further stated that the fringe benefits offered in the new agreement would lead to a rise in financial compensation for extracurricular work, which includes marking School-Based Assessment scripts. The negotiations between the Government Negotiating Team and the other four unions that represent public sector workers are yet to be concluded.
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