Union expresses concerns ahead of meeting
By:
Jenique Belgrave
The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) is not impressed with the timing chosen by the Ministry of Education to have a joint meeting to discuss the Combermere School situation.
The meeting is to be held today, which is not enough time, according to the union, to fully thrash out the issue or to form contingency plans.
“The Christmas holidays were three weeks long with only three non-working days; ample opportunity for meetings with the BSTU and their members, ample opportunity for exchange of information, clarification, to provide assurances and formulate contingency planning-none of which has taken place,” the union said in a press release.
The union also expressed concern with the ministry’s decision to speak to the parents of the students of the school before speaking with the teachers’ representative agency, saying this, combined with the timing of today’s meeting, “will not preclude any action that the BSTU might have to take in protecting and enforcing the rights of its membership and the interests of the children”.
“The BSTU is fully cognisant of what may be an attempt by the MOE to prevent what they might envisage as potential pushback from the Union and teachers with a lack of satisfaction with the outcomes at the scheduled meeting,” the release stated.
Saying that the MOE’s meeting with the frustrated parents had the potential to influence and create potential dissent before the forum with the union, the BSTU also said that it could prejudice opinion against any stand that the teachers may be forced to take to protect their health.
The union added, “To the ministry, we quote Daryl Alexander: ‘People exchange their time, energy and skills for wages. They shouldn’t have to trade their health. It is not a commodity to be traded’.” (JMB)
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