Govt gets court order to stop teachers protest

After being warned by the Ministry of Education about “high absenteeism,” the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) and TT’s 14,000 teachers were slapped with an ex-parte injunction by the Ministry of Labour yesterday, restraining them from further protest actions. “We had no other choice but to take this action under Section 65 of the Industrial Relations Act because, as a Government, we have to protect the national interest,” said acting Labour Minister Franklyn Khan, at a media briefing at the Ministry of Labour yesterday. TTUTA was served with the court order at around 5.20 pm.

Khan said that under Section 69 of the Act, TTUTA and TT’s teachers are prohibited from taking any industrial action. He stated that Government decided to seek the injunction because they were convinced that the activities of TTUTA  “continuously” disrupted the education system and had the potential to disrupt the conduct of the national tests for Standards One and Three today. He urged all parents of students doing the national tests to send their children to school today and assured that the Education Ministry had guaranteed that the exam will proceed without disruption. Questioned about the consequences teachers will face if they continue to “back” the union by continuing their protests, Khan responded that since it was a court order, the injunction was “clear” about the consequences of non-compliance.

“I will really like to urge teachers not to go contrary to the order of the Industrial Court.” Meanwhile, the injunction has strengthened the resolve of TTUTA in its quest to get salary increases for teachers based on their “market value.” TTUTA president Trevor Oliver asserted that the injunction could not stop the will of the teachers. “No injunction will allow people to accept economic servitude. An oppressed people will always find ways to get themselves out of economic oppression.” Whether or not the injunction will result in full attendance at schools for today’s national tests remains to be seen. Oliver said he could guarantee this since teachers were entitled to leave.  “I don’t know if an injunction will mean they will lose their entitlements.”

Asked if he anticipated the Ministry getting an injunction, Oliver quipped: “We expect anything.” He asserted that the injunction had done little to diminish the resolve of TTUTA or teachers. “Resolve will be strengthened. We are fighting for justice, and you don’t get weak.” Oliver said TTUTA’s resolve remains on getting a decent salary for teachers to reflect their value, efficiency and prestige. He said he was not bothered about any repercussions of the injunction, should teachers become ill or absent themselves. “I am not a virus. If a person gets sick I don’t know how we will be held responsible.” TTUTA’s General Council was scheduled to meet 6 pm yesterday to discuss “action.”