About
- Message from President of GTU
- Knowing better your union
- 1945 Birth of a Union, Short history of the GTU
- Louis Eugène Fabien, le dernier des Mohicans de la GTU
- Portrait du President
- New Horizons
Message from President of GTU
Six decades of existence is indeed a tremendous achievement which demands to be duly celebrated with great pomp, joy, friendliness and happiness. Established in 1945 by late André Bazeque, the GTU has since witnessed considerable progress. With a membership of around 210 in 1945, GTU now reckons around 5000 registered members and caters for almost all categories of workers in the primary education sector. Such a long period of existence has no doubt enabled the union to grow and to morph into one of the most powerful organizations in the country. With a new dynamic team at its head since February 2005, committed to consolidating and empowering its strong base and overall democratic structure, GTU can foresee brighter days and be confident to be truly responsive to the growing concerns and needs of the members it services.
Real opportunities lie ahead for making the GTU still more commendable and allowing it to move to a higher level of interaction in order to play multifunctional and multidimensional roles in the social and economic arenas. Our team is committed to see that the union be in a real position to embrace this higher order role.
The recent periods of absolute lethargy and blatant stagnation have most fortunately given way to true dynamism and pro-activism with the creation of a women’s wing, youth wing, a retired teachers association which rightly advocate the pillaring process of the union.
However, it is an undeniable fact that occult forces have always operated in the dark to undermine teachers’ force and unity. GTU must as usual be on the alert to face mushrooming obstructionists and divisionists. GTU has so far succeeded and will always succeed in resisting same forces and will not depart from its commendably chosen motto: “ United We Stand, Divided we fall.”
The launching of the GTU website gives us the unique opportunity to pay tribute to its founders, to its past leaders and to its past and present members. It equally gives us the unique opportunity to take stock of its past achievements which would eventually lead us to pave the way in outlining the future action plans of the GTU.
I wish to thank all GTU rank and file members, delegates and executive council members for their dedication and support. I wish the GTU long years of struggle and achievements.
Jugduth SEEGUM
President
Knowing better your union
The Government Teachers Union (GTU) is ranked amongst the most structured Unions in the country. Governed under the laws of Mauritius and a well-defined constitution, all procedures and decisions are taken in accordance with the constitution
GTU is run by an executive council of seventeen members who are elected every two years at the AGM, on a one-man one-vote basis. At the elections, members are asked to vote for a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, 12 council members and 2 auditors. After elections the 15 elected members are allowed to co-opt 2 more members to form part of the committee for a period of one year. After one year these co-opted members can be replaced or their election renewed.
The elected members, come from all over the island, each one is responsible for a specific region or zone. They are in permanent contact with the school delegates, who report to them problems arising at a specific school. The regional members try to solve problems at school level with the head teacher or at the level of the zone inspectorate. If no solutions are found the matter goes to the GTU office, where the President, Secretary and Treasurer, who are there everyday, try to find solutions at higher levels.
To run the day-to-day affairs of the union a Bureau is set-up. This Bureau comprises of the President, the Deputy President, the Vice President, the Secretary and the Treasurer. These five persons are responsible to take decisions concerning the daily activities of the union. Major decisions are taken in the executive council consisting of all the 17 members. In both bodies decisions are taken by a majority of members.
To facilitate contact with grass root members, the GTU has a well-defined delegate system. These delegates are chosen at each and every school. Schools having less than 5 members elect one delegate and those having 5 or more elect two delegates.
These delegates act as school representatives for the Union. They help in circulating union publications among members, report problems to the Regional Council Members or the GTU office. They also participate in delegates meetings to voice the opinion of members at their school regarding major issues and take decisions at the meetings.
Between AGMs other meetings are also held.
- Delegates’ meetings where decisions are taken on important issues
- Delegates’ conference for consultation and information
- Special General meeting on written requests from members to discuss a particular issue.
- Mass meetings to sensitise members on issues
- Regional meetings to inform members about new issues.
The Council operates at its registered head office found at 2, Mgr Gonin Street Port-Louis, where a full time paid Administrative secretary is present to help members.
The Union communicates with members at school through:
- Telephone 208 0047 and Fax 208 4943
- A web site with lots of information and all publications of the Union.
- Circular letters, Newspapers, Seminars, Press conference, and regular contacts through school visits.
One very important function of the GTU is to make representations to the PRB in connection with salary revision exercises and conditions of service. Members expect a lot from these representations and any wrong move is at the detriment of one and all, as it was the case during the last PRB report when we lost ½ of our yearly vacation leave entitlement and found our NLNS allowance considerably reduced. The Union also negotiates with the employer on behalf of members on matters such as transfers, leaves and other grievances. Memoranda are also submitted to the Ministry of Finance before presentation of the annual budget.
When negotiation fails, the union has recourse to industrial actions such as protest marches, street demonstrations and strike. It also declares disputes to the employer and the ministry of Civil Service Affairs.
1945 Birth of a Union, Short history of the GTU
On 24 November 1945, the western suburb Government school, now the Edgar Millien Government school, hosted a historical meeting of Government teachers who had been called to decide upon the formation of a single union with both categories of teachers or a separate one regrouping all Government teachers only. Though Mr Kenneth Baker, the Labour Adviser at that time, advocated the case of one single and common union, Government teachers opted for the contrary after the brilliant expose of one Andre Bazerque who was to make the history of the union later.
The union was named Mauritius Government Teachers Union. It was officially registered on the 10th of December 1945. The first Executive Council of the union was constituted as follows;
President - Auguste Vollaire
Secretary - Andre Bazerque
Treasurer - V.Louise
Members-
Miss E.Audibert Mr D.Gajadhursing
Mr E.Derblay Mr S.Ramchurn
Mrs G.Fournier Mr P.La Fond
Mr S.Keetarut Mrs F.Henlin
Mr Nuckchedy Mr H.Jouan
Mr R.Seeraj Mr P.Bazerque
Auditors-
Mr Samuel Esser
Mr Maurice Evenor Moutou.
The union declared its first dispute in 1946 on the salary proposals made by the Swinden Commission. In 1953, Mr Andre Bazerque paid a high price for his involvement in the union as disciplinary actions were taken against him and he lost his job. Even today, GTU never fails to pay him tribute for his sincere service and sacrifice on Labour Day each year. When the Industrial Relations Act was passed in 1973, the MGTU had to be registered again as the Government Teachers Union. With a membership of more than 4800, the union remains one of the most democratic with its one man one vote system and the most respected one in the whole education sector.
Louis Eugène Fabien, le dernier des Mohicans de la GTU
Natif de Port Louis et adulé par presque tous les enseignants de son époque et surtout de la capitale, Louis Eugène Fabien a marqué de façon indélébile l’histoire de la GTU. Fabien vivait le syndicalisme et le social. Il respirait la GTU. Sa vie toute entière a été consacrée à la GTU. Je n’ai connu nul autre que Fabien qui a autant aimé, adoré la GTU. Dans ce monde égoiste de matérialisme ambiant, rares sont des individus qui se consacrent autant à l’avancement des autres, au bienfait de ses collègues et la joie de vivre de tout un chacun. Eugène s’est donné corps et âme pour la profession qu’il adorait tant et par ricochet, au bien être de ses collègues –profs. Il a été indibutablement le plus grand défenseur de la GTU.
Simple, honnête, sincère, dévoué, franc, loyal….. les adjectifs ne suffiront guère de le qualifier. Il a été un délégué infatigable du syndicat et a servi pendant de longues années comme membre du comité exécutif de la GTU. Méticuleux et astucieux, il a été celui qui arrivait à la GTU le plus tôt et qui la quittait en dernier. Plus d’une fois, Eugène a été au syndicat jusqu’à deux heures du matin pour en revenir à.. 5hres du matin. Nuit et jour, il s’adonnait aux diverses activités de la GTU pour mener à bon port les nombreuses revendications et demandes des enseignants. C’est cette vie de sacrifice qui mena à la destruction pure et simple de sa vie de famille. Il en était bien conscient. Soit la famille, soit le syndicat. Il choisit le deuxième. Même s’il vouait un amour immense pour Daisy, son épouse et ses deux enfants, Mary Jane et Eriksson.
Après 38 ans de services loyaux, il se retira du professorat et connut une vie des plus solitaires et de surcroît, misérables comme tant d’autres syndicalistes sincères. Néanmoins, il n’avait pas oublié la GTU et ne pouvait s’en passer. C’est L. E. Fabien qui me montra la chemin menant à la GTU un beau jour de 1977, les années de braise du syndicat. Il a été mon mentor, quoi. Il inculqua en moi l’esprit du sacrifice et de dévouement à la cause des autres. Un vrai messie. Homme de proximité, il sillonnait constamment sa région et était à l’écoute de tous les membres indistinctement. Fait notable : ayant servi de longues années au comité, Eugène n’a jamais pris l’avion de sa vie pour aller se prélasser sous d’autres cieux comme le faisaient ses co-équipiers. Il n’y était nullement intéressé. Il représentait le vrai humanisme à la GTU et était le symbole tonitruant de l’anti-communalisme.
Pire. Il n’a jamais eu la chance de travailler dans un ‘star school’. Proche qu’il était des enfants des régions exclus, ses écoles de prédilection furent : Briquetterie, E. Anquetil, La Cure, Nicolay… Le 8 Mars 2003, à l’école R. Rivet il était toujours à côté de moi, jour des élections de la GTU. Vers les minuit, il se sépara de nous, après nous avoir suppliés de passer la nuit chez lui, Khalil et moi.
Tout le monde avait quitté l’enceinte de l’école R. Rivet. Nous le refusâmes. Il nous regarda s’éloigner. Et il partit. Sur la pointe de pieds. Jusqu’au-delà. Adieu Eugène.
N.B : C’est à juste titre et à l’unanimité du comité exécutif et des membres que la décision a été prise de rendre hommage à Eugène à titre posthume en donnant son nom au Teachers’ Centre à l’occasion du 60eme anniversaire de la GTU.
Vinod Seegum
Président GTU
3 Septembre 2005
Vinod Seegum est né à Mon Désir, Vacoas. Après des études secondaires au Presidency College, il adhère au Teachers’ Training College après avoir été Courts Officer, Customs Officer et Clerical Officer. En janvier 1977, il est en poste à la Visitation RCA. N’étant pas un RC Teacher, il demande son affectation dans une école du gouvernement. Ainsi, en septembre 1977, il atterrit à Edith Cavell G. S. Comme tous les jeunes embrassant la profession, Vinod Seegum entame des études supérieures. Il décroche ses « 3 A-Levels at one sitting ». EN 1979, il suit pendant 2 ans des cours menant au DEUG Droit, qu’il abandonne pour des raisons indépendantes de sa volonté et se consacre pleinement à l’enseignement. En 1984, il est transféré à La Tour Koenig G. S et en 1990, il se trouve à Baichoo Madhoo G.S. En 1996, Vinod Seegum est muté à SVR G. S après quoi il est de nouveau transféré à Rémy Ollier « B » G. S, puis jusqu’aux élection de la GTU à Raoul Rivet. G. S. Aujourd’hui il est affecté à Young Men’s Hindu G. S pour cause de proximité avec le bureau de la GTU.
Son palmarès dans l’enseignement a été fort éloquent. Il est un parmi des rares syndicalistes à avoir ses élèves classés ler, 2e, 3e, 4e… au CPE. D’ailleurs, sept de ses élèves ont été lauréats de la cuvée 2005.
Au niveau du syndicat, il a été délégué syndical dès sa première mutation à l’école de la Visitation. Il a été un des rares délégués à donner 100% de participation à la grève du Service Civil en 1989. Il gravit tous les échelons à la GTU : membre de l’exécutif, vice-président et aujourd’hui président.
The Mentor Post
It should be recalled that the Mentor post was first mentioned in Sewraj report in 2001 and that thrice budgetary provisions were made for the creation of mentor posts but they were never materialized. Our predecessors had been dilly dallying on minor points as far as the scheme of service is concerned and thus gave a death blow to the post. History has it that similar recommendations were made by the Garrioch report in 1967 as to the creation of 960 posts of Senior Teachers but no single post was ever-filled. In a context of cut-throat competition resulting out of the waiving of the preferential trade treatment with the dismantling of the Multi fibre Agreement and the threats to the sugar protocol, it is a fact that government will be called upon by the IMF/World Bank to cut down on public sector expenses in a view to restrict recruitment of civil servants. In such a gloomy context, the new GTU team considers it as a matter of pride to have been successful in urging the government to add 50 additional posts to the establishment without reducing the existing 1200 posts of Deputy Head Teachers. It should also be pointed out that we have succeeded in obtaining the entire 50 posts for government establishment. The 8 posts for BEC are not included in the 50 posts. Hence we have a total of 58 posts. Our predecessors had negotiated 50 posts which included 8 for BEC. We are also fully aware that the 58 posts are indeed insufficient and we have already made a case to have at least one mentor per school. The GTU has had a thorough meeting with the Arya Sabha and has convinced its president to urge for 2 posts of Mentor for HEA. We are pleased to inform that same has materialised.
