by Linda Straker
- 1,800 teachers are approximately one-third of public officers
- Teachers are staff of the State, according to Prime Minister
- Historic collective agreement signed in 4 months
The members of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) who are employed by the Government of Grenada will be receiving a 13% increase in salary for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025.
The total number of teachers set to receive the increase is 1,800 which is approximately one-third of public officers. As of December 2022, there were 5,363 public officers in the system.
The new collective agreement with the Government of Grenada was signed on Wednesday, 29 March 2023, and witnessed by Finance Minister, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell who thanked members of the teaching profession for their role in society. “Having a formal education system is fundamental to a civilised society for our growth and development and in the absence of teachers that simply cannot happen. I think it’s a fundamental difference that teachers play; no amount of money, no amount of fringe benefits can truly show the appreciation for that,” he said before the agreement was signed.
“Too often industrial relations are characterised by strife, and we have to get to the point where we can have healthy differences. We can debate, we can disagree but we have to find a way where we can recognise that the teachers are members of the GUT, but the teachers are ultimately our staff. They are the staff of the state and so ultimately we have an obligation to be as fair as we can for them,” the Prime Minister said.
Jude Bartholomew, President General of the GUT described the signing as historic because it’s the only time in recent memory that a new collective agreement was able to be signed in 4 months. Negotiations for the new agreement commenced in December 2022.
“Historically, the Grenada Union of Teachers and other unions most of the time had to march on the streets, go through the Labour Commissioner or commission, a process for mediation and other things for salary increase. We note this time, we place on record that this a historic moment that we appreciate and recognise,” he said.
He further explained that the new agreement does not cover everything that was initially requested. “We may never be able to get all that you really want and hope to, but at the same time when you come together and negotiate, we can come to a common understanding when you are at a very good place,” Bartholomew said. “And at this time when the Government of Grenada would have paid pension and the docked salary, 23% for TAMCC after a long period of time and recognising all the other things the Government is doing for workers, we just want to show some praise and appreciation to the Honourable Dickon Mitchell and his administration.”
Following the signing ceremony, Bartholomew explained that for 2023 and 2024 teachers will receive a 4% increase, respectively and 5% for the year 2025. The fringe benefits in the new agreement will also see an increase in financial compensation for extracurricular work, such as the marking of School-Based Assessments (SBA).
The Government Negotiating Team (GNT) is yet to conclude negotiations with the 4 unions that represent other Government workers. The GUT conducted its negotiations separately. However, if the 4 other unions receive a percentage higher than what the GUT agreed, it will automatically apply to the salary of the GUT membership.
