Having dealt with some internal issues that might have hampered its optimum operation in the past year, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) is prepared to embrace a mode of operation this year that will see it having a very vibrant and external presence as it strives to represent teachers across the country.This deliberate but strategic tactic was amplified recently by President of the Union, Mark Lyte,NFL Jerseys Outlet, who was elected President last April at the Union’s biennial conference.? He is expected to serve a two-year stint.But assuming the position of President did not mean that he was prepared to see the institution operate in a lax manner.? According to Lyte, during an exclusive interview with this publication,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, “I don’t think that we could have ‘rush out’ and do this and that and then internally we are not prepared to see things in a different way…My philosophy is fix inside before we look at the outside.”Moreover, he noted, “My first couple of months as President was focused on getting GTU internally organised so that we can be in a better way so that in 2015 we can launch out and look at more external things.”Without specifying any of the particular issues that needed attention within the union,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, Lyte noted that he is confident that 2015 will prove to be a more progressive year for the Union. He spoke of fervent efforts being made to ensure that the Union’s operation is more efficient to the extent that it helps to ensure that teachers are well compensated for the priceless service they offer.This, of course, will see the Union, among other things, commencing negotiations with Government during the first quarter of this for an acceptable pay hike for teachers.Another issue of paramount importance that is currently gaining the attention of the union is that of debunching. This matter, according to him, is one that addresses the salaries of teachers whereby teachers with the same status will see them being paid based on their years of experience.This would ensure that a senior teacher who was trained 10 years ago will not be placed on the same salary scale as a senior master or mistress that was subsequently trained.But according to Lyte, “Our teachers have not benefited one dollar from that debunching.” According to him,Jerseys NFL Wholesale China, a task force that was set up to address this issue had completed its work since in September in terms of categorising teachers and how they will benefit from the debunching.“We were hoping that our teachers would have been able to benefit from this, at least by the end of the year (2014)…that has not happened and I am very unhappy about that because we seem to not be making any progress where that is concerned,” said Lyte.He went on to share concerns about the slow pace of duty free concession approvals to eligible teachers, that is, Deputy and Head Teachers of public schools across the country.? “I would like to see the process being expedited because you cannot have GTU submitting names and it takes six months, a year or longer,” said Lyte.“It simply is not moving apace as it should. We have submitted names of our teachers in fact all through the year we have been doing that…we submitted almost 200 names.”Once they are promoted to the required status, teachers at different points of the year become eligible for duty free concessions. A letter of appointment, together with a vehicle quotation,Authentic NFL Jerseys Wholesale, is submitted to the GTU and this is then forwarded to the Ministry of Education.But according to Lyte, between 2009 and 2013 there is a backlog in terms of the number of teachers able to access their duty free.“There are some teachers who were eligible since in 2009 and are actually coming off without receiving their duty free concession so we are fighting that battle,” said Lyte as he pointed out that as part of the requirement is that teachers must have at least? five years remaining in order to be eligible.“Our case is that when they were entitled they had their requisite five years…that goes to show how slow the Ministry has been acting and it has not been because of a lack of effort on our (GTU) part.“We can only do so much and try to work along with the Ministry to get it expedited but the process is very long and painful,NFL Jerseys China,” asserted Lyte.According to the GTU President, the Union is on an ever keen mission to ensure that teachers are fully aware of their rights and privileges. Currently, the Union is tasked with presenting in excess of 7,000 teachers across the country.