Leave our teachers alone

As a result, the union has called on all teachers employed with those institutes to resist the temptation to apply for positions at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).

TTUTA President Clyde Permell told Newsday that their decision is as a result of an attempt to separate the teachers from the school, and rehire them as contract employees. Government is taking steps to transfer the institutes to the UTT from the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT).

Permell said the transfer itself was not supported by legislation and was therefore "fraught with unending confusion."

He threatened that the union was prepared to invoke the law as it related to the termination of employment of teachers, to protect its members’ rights.

He said the promised meetings with the union on the matter have not yet materialised, although Education Minister, Hazel Manning, had promised to meet with all parties involved. Permell insisted that discussions must be held to finalise terms and conditions of service of the teachers, as the "union is prepared to use all its options towards having this matter resolved."

Permell said the union has had enough.

He appealed to the UTT and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education "to desist from approaching its members."

Tertiary Education Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid told Newsday yesterday that there was a committee working to resolve the issues surrounding the transfer of human resources. He assured that meetings will be held with the union soon.