TTUTA Red Day draws mixed support

The call by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) for teachers around the country to wear red yesterday was successful as many schools reported the majority of staff had indeed followed the union’s request for support, as negotiations began with the Chief Personnel Officer. Both primary and secondary schools along the East-West corridor, as well as in Central Trinidad and Port-of-Spain, revealed that while all staff reported for duty, the majority of staffers had indeed turned out wearing red. Speaking with Newsday, a source at the Diego Martin Government Primary School said the school had always been a “strong supporter of TTUTA” and promised that teachers would don red ribbons as a show of support in the coming weeks as negotiations continued.

However, Woodbrook Government Secondary School reported that only a few persons had worn red. Presentation College in Chaguanas reported that only about ten percent of its staff had honoured the union’s request. Asked if there was the possibility of support growing at the school for TTUTA, Newsday was told, “I think it is possible if persons do not see some movement, the numbers could increase.” Communications assistant at the Ministry of Education, Hilton Braveboy, later told Newsday that Red Day had not hampered or disrupted regular school activities in any way.