The Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU) says it will go to a meeting organised by the labour ministry to discuss with the Ministry of Education terms of resumption for striking teachers.
However, the GTU also received an invitation to meet with the Advisory Committee appointed by the labour ministry to inquire into the dispute, for the same time, day and venue and has declined that invitation.
This was confirmed by the GTU Vice President Phillip Roberts when contacted yesterday.
According to Phillips, the GTU had received the invitation from the Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel first and gave priority to that invitation on a "first come, first served basis."
The Advisory Committee chaired by Dr Martin Boodhoo, met for the first time on Friday and has agreed on a preliminary plan of action to solve the dispute. This plan includes meeting with both parties.
Both parties have been asked to submit separate memoranda outlining their case as part of the preliminary plan.
The teachers took industrial action from March 5, to back their demands for a 15% across the board increase in salaries for 2002. They have received increases ranging from 15% for the lower categories of teachers and 5% for the higher categories after negotiations for increases on last year's wages and salaries broke down in November.
The teachers struck for two days for the first three weeks this month then intensified it from Tuesday indefinitely. They also held two protest marches, one in Georgetown on Wednesday and another on Friday in Linden. (Miranda La Rose)