TTUTA at 38

Today we continue this reflection as we recognise that we were born out of struggle and that it is through continued struggle that we will preserve the gains achieved and ensure that the follies of the past never again characterise the teaching profession in Trinidad and Tobago.

As the decade came to a close, dissatisfaction came to a head in 1979. On March 31, 1979, approximately 150 teachers gathered at the Mt Hope Junior Secondary School, headed by Frank B Seepersad, who was a teacher there, to discuss the unsatisfactory state of the teaching profession.

The meeting adopted a resolution seeking to ensure one autonomous body for teachers. A decision was also arrived at to establish a steering committee of 22 to oversee the formation of one union for all teachers. Volunteers were sought to serve on this committee — the Committee for the Unification of Teachers (Comfut).

Another mass meeting of May 5, 1979, at the then Mucurapo Senior Secondary School, adopted a resolution to have Comfut seek legal advice as to how it should proceed towards its goal of establishing “…a single autonomous professional organisation of teachers, where every individual teacher has a say in policy- determining decisions of the organisation through proper representation in the management of the organisation.” The Unification Committee drew up an action plan which included: *Stirring up teacher participation by using several publicity techniques, bumper stickers, buttons, rallies and public meetings.

*Seeking and obtaining about 9,000 signatures to the call for a single union for teachers, and an amendment of the Education Act (Act 1 of 1966) to facilitate teacher representation by a single majority union.

*Seeking the resignation of the officers of the existing unions so as to make room for a single union.

*Fund-raising activities.

The period from March 1979 to December 1981, when TTUTA was finally recognised by the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board, was one of relentless struggle with the authorities in support of the cause for one union for all teachers. Thousands of teachers marched around the Red House and through the streets demanding that there be one umbrella body for all teachers.

On April 24, 1980, TTUTA was registered as a trade union. It is worth noting that TTUTA got its name from adding the word “Trinidad” to the Tobago Unified Teachers Association, thus resulting in the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association.

In March 1981, the State presented a draft revision of the Education Act 1966, which allowed TTUTA to be recognised as a union for teachers, alongside the three other teachers unions in the country.

This proposal was strongly rejected at a mass meeting of members of the association in March 1981. Under continued pressure from the mass of teachers the government conceded and the Education Act 1966 was amended to give TTUTA full recognition as the majority union for teachers.

The Registration, Recognition and Certification Board accorded official recognition of the association in December 1981.

TTUTA was born out of struggle, where pickets and marches were par for the course. Throughout the 38 years of our existence, the association has employed these tools to further advance the interests of our members. TTUTA has represented the interests of our members remarkably well over the past 38 years.

If we are to continue to jealously safeguard the welfare of our members in the coming years we must be prepared to be ever vigilant and resolute in the defence of teachers’ rights.