AS the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) began its day of “rest and reflection” on Thursday, an activist group is standing in support of the trade union’s actions.
The Citizens Union of Trinidad & Tobago (CUTT) in a press release stated that Government was taking advantage of the educational situation.
CUTT’s executive director Phillip Alexander said, “The current government has gotten away with bully and browbeat as a policy for too long, and as in all cases of empty rhetoric and noise, others are left holding the bag when facing the consequences of unilateral decision making and an absolute ignorance of the circumstances of those over whom you have responsibility.”
He said, “The Citizens Union reminds the government of the important role teachers play in the moulding of young minds and the willingness with which they stepped up to serve despite sudden changes to their employment terms due to a pandemic, and that they deserve a lot better than they have been given in return.”
Alexander said it is hoped that TTUTA’s message would be the last required for government to address those issues.
He said, “We call on government to act responsibly and with haste in resolving these matters.”
TTUTA has stated its reasons for its action which included: “Disrespect from Ministry of Education who refuses to discuss with TTUTA the way forward in reopening of Schools Safely, disregard for their views from MoE when sent to them, refusal to start salary negotiations where teachers are on salary from 2012, incremental arrears outstanding, teachers in primary working for over 10 years and not being upgraded, vacancies in Teaching Service not being filled, insufficient infrastructure to support their decision of physical and virtual teaching simultaneously and increased expense of Teachers in using personal Wifi Service with no reflection in Benefits of Salary.
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