By Sue-Ann Wayow
HEAD of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Antonia Tekah-De Freitas is vowing to do whatever it takes to improve on the 4% wage increase offer to teachers.
This includes protesting by herself outside the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain on Tuesday.
The action follows statements made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Monday that Government cannot budge from the 4% offer made and if necessary, the final decision will rest with the Industrial Court.
Tekah-De Freitas said she was representing all teachers whose plights needed to be heard.
She told AZP News that she was advised by her attorneys that as head of the association, although an injunction has been filed in the Industrial Court, she could, by herself continue to raise the members discontent and unhappiness in the public domain.
“We listen to the Budget yesterday and a simple thing as the increase in fuel prices is going to impact on our members negatively. It is going to impact all citizens. Some of our members have to travel very far distances to get to their workplaces,” Tekah- De Freitas said.
She said, “Apart from that, our teachers and educators dip into their own pockets to facilitate education in the classroom. There are many parents whose children are in school, they are in vulnerable positions and our teachers dip into their own pockets to assist these children. You don’t always hear about those things. We simply cannot continue to do this on our own for long. That cannot work anymore.”
“Our members and educators are not valued by the state,” Tekah De Freitas said.
She said if no one stood for up teachers, cynicism and dictatorial tendencies by the Government will continue.
While her protest was just 30 minutes outside the Hall of Justice, she said it was enough to make an impact and she will continue to do so as an alternative method while teachers adhere to the injunction filed by the Ministry of Labour on Sunday.
On Sunday, Attorney General Reginald Armour announced that the injunction was sought following the union’s continued call for teachers to “rest and reflect” which would result in tecahers not attending classes negatively impacting on education.
Tekah-De Freitas had advised members to abide by the injunction.
A Teacher that is now entertaining the system with a degree would start at about $8,000 per month with a yearly increment.
A Teacher within the system for many years can be receiving a salary of about $ 12,000 + per month.
Teachers were also fully paid through the COVID lockdown and Teachers also gets three School vacations per year. Christmas, Easter and July/August. Still receiving full salaries. While others may only have a simple two week vacation.
Many people wish there were Teachers in the country