Protesting teachers put on alert for early vacation

The 14,000 teachers throughout TT yesterday who protested through the streets of Port-of-Spain have been put on stand-by for a possible early start to the July/August vacation by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) if the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) does not move to narrow the existing salary gap between the external market and what teachers are now taking home. Stating that “no significant movement” had arisen out of the three-and-a-half hour meeting with the CPO yesterday morning, TTUTA president Trevor Oliver said he could not pre-empt the decision of the General Council, “but while today was only a partial shutdown of the school system, I cannot guarantee there will be a total shutdown. But if it comes to that, so be it.”

Oliver made the disclosure as he addressed teachers and supporters who were attending TTUTA’s Red Day march yesterday. He revealed that TTUTA’s General Council would be meeting soon to discuss its next move surrounding the latest round of wage negotiations for the period 2002 - 2005, and to decide what form their next course of action will take. A light rain at the beginning of the march had persons scurrying for shelter, but the umbrellas came out as the large procession left the Brian Lara Promenade at 2 pm, making its way up Abercromby Street to the Queen’s Park Savannah at around 3.15 pm. There, they were addressed by chief negotiator Oliver, TTUTA’s second vice president Orville Carrington, and third vice president Roustan Job.

Speaking to the thousands of teachers who had gathered at the paved area behind the Paddock in the Queen’s Park Savannah, Oliver was in a fighting mood as he called on teachers to unite in their struggle for increased wages. “I earlier promised thunder would come and it came today,” he said, drawing applause and cheers from the large gathering. Referring to TTUTA detractors who had openly expressed outrage that the union would protest for increased wages, Oliver declared: “We are talking money this time and I am not ashamed. We have spoken of different matters at various times.” With the crowd edging him on, Oliver said such matters included curriculum reform, getting additional teaching staff for the two training colleges, and an 18-point plan to help curb violence and indiscipline in schools.

“If children are safer today, it is because of TTUTA,” he shouted. He prompted raucous laughter when he wondered aloud why no one asked why judges are some of the more highly paid public servants, even though the judiciary still seems to be in a mess. Oliver warned: “Who do not want to hear will feel.” He called on Prime Minister Patrick Manning in his capacity as Finance Minister to honour his word when he was Opposition Leader, accusing the UNC of not paying teachers acceptable salaries. Oliver’s words to Manning were: “You can now change this.”

Even as he called on the Prime Minister to effect some change, Oliver promised, “This is the big one as all hell will roll, all artillery will be out and all soldiers will be out,” referring to TTUTA’s next plan of action. With the crowd already riled, Oliver’s words incited cheers of “Yeah” and “Let them wait and see what teachers could do,” as he stated: “We will rumble like never before.” Also addressing the crowd, TTUTA’s third vice president Roustan Job asked whether Government could afford not to pay teachers — the very  persons responsible for providing the nation with the healthy resources needed to fulfil Government’s mandate of Vision 2020. After yesterday’s march, teachers were requested to continue wearing red ribbons until further notice, while TTUTA decides on its next move.