TNT launches battle for control of TTUTA

THE NEW TTUTA (TNT) yesterday presented its candidates as they prepare themselves for the upcoming elections of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA). The election will be held on October 21. Led by Clyde Permell for president, TNT said its wealth of experience and involvement in the union, as well as Permell’s experience as a past TTUTA president, were good reasons for teachers to vote them into office. Permell said his team had a “common vision and are well qualified” to take over the mantle from Trevor Oliver and the current executive. He said none of the six officers now in office will be contesting the election, and promised that should TNT win the elections, they will continue to build on the foundation already in place, since they know the operations of the union and will be able to continue its work at “full speed without interruption.”

He said the union faced several challenges and the first to be looked at, should they attain office, would be to hold discussions with the Ministry of Education in an effort to have them “modify their bureaucratic organisation.” He also let the public know that his team will not be afraid to call on teachers to show their dissatisfaction when the ministry is stalling to meet teachers needs, and to even take legal action against the ministry. He said such action were options open to teachers in instances as exist now with the delay in paying arrears of increments. He reiterated that the union also has to work on negotiations for fringe benefits for teachers, as well as prepare to start negotiations for the next collective agreement by February. Teachers collective agreement expires in October next year. Permell aside, the TNT team  includes Allison Sarjeant, first vice president; Allan Noreiga, second vice president; Keith Sankar, third vice president; David Lewis, general secretary and Komaldi Chotai, treasurer. An estimated 11,100 teachers are registered to vote and the campaign will be taken to schools throughout the country.