Coretta McDonald likely to be booted from GTU executive
General Secretary of the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) Coretta McDonald is likely to be removed from that position in keeping with a provision in the union’s constitution.
The GTU’s constitution prevents a member from serving on the executive if that person is serving in the National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana.
McDonald has been serving as an APNU Member of Parliament (MP) where she is the lead opposition spokesperson on education.
The President and Second Vice President of the GTU, both of whom McDonald had suspended for negotiating a deal for salary increases for teachers, have approached the High Court with a Fixed Date Application (FDA), seeking McDonald’s removal from the executive of the union in keeping with its constitution.
The two top officials of the GTU contend that McDonald’s continued tenure threatens the integrity of the organisation, creating an untenable environment for collaboration and progress.
They are seeking a declaration: “That, on a true and proper interpretation of the Constitution of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, Coretta Mc Donald is not entitled to lawfully hold the position of General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, or any other elected position in the Guyana Teachers’ Union, while she holds office as an elected member of the National Assembly.”
They also highlighted that her role as General Secretary adversely impacts engagements with the State, as decisions tend to adopt a political bias.
During negotiations between the education ministry and the GTU, McDonald organized and led countrywide strikes and protests which resulted in schools being shut for weeks and students being forced to remain at home.
A deal was eventually reached between the union and the ministry, resulting in teachers receiving salary increases, increase in duty free allowances, more training opportunities, and more than 40 other benefits which the union demanded.
However, McDonald lambasted the union heads for arriving a settlement with the ministry, and had them suspended.
