Students present, guards absent

A random poll of schools in the north-east found that many had guards as usual. However, at Morvant Laventille Junior Secondary School there was one guard instead of the usual five or six while Belmont Junior Secondary School started school with no guards, one guard subsequently reported for duty. The school usually has two.

An official of NTMS said there was a problem with the Ste Madeliene Secondary School, Siparia Primary Schools and Corinth Teachers’ College where after finishing their 6 am shifts, guards locked the schools and the school officials trying to gain entry could not get inside. The gates were opened “later than normal” but classes took place. TTUTA president Clyde Permell said he heard that Malick Secondary had only two of five security guards reporting for duty.

Curtis Robertson, first vice-president of the Estate Police Association (EPA), yesterday said there was high absenteeism in the southern region and parts of the north. He said guards were not striking but taking three days (yesterday through tomorrow) for fasting and prayer. Robertson said they may decide to fast and pray at work or decide to do so in an environment where they would not be distracted.

He said the action was aimed at changing the hearts of the management of the company and the Government which was “not saying anything.” He could not say what the next move would be after tomorrow.

Robertson said the workers were “crying out for equity” with officers of other state agencies. He said negotiations were going on for more than a year and was at a stalemate since the NTMS was not moving from its offer of $1 increase (per hour) or 12 percent for three years (2004-2007) for junior officers and $2 for officers in supervisory positions.

He said the EPA has proposed an increase from $9/ $9.50 to $15 for unprecepted officers, an increase from $10.50 to $22 for precepted officers and $18 to $28 for corporals who work as supervisors and from $20 to $32 for sergeants who were also supervisors. Robertson said, “Officers must not be subjected to poverty wages. At $9 an hour, officers earn $1,000 fortnightly.”

He said workers are also concerned about work conditions. He said guards have to change in the bathrooms of schools which were “unsanitary.” Robertson said officers transporting cash do not have armoured vehicles or bullet-proof vests. He said NTMS had not offered a pension or health plan for guards.

Michael Hunt, human resource manager of NTMS, said at least 95 percent of the 500 schools which NTMS has security guards assigned were manned.

Hunt said figures were not available although the feedback the company had been receiving indicated that north, Tobago, south and Central schools had guards.

Hunt said police officers have been doing additional patrols to support NTMS’s efforts and senior guards were “in the field to ensure the level of security is maintained.”

Asked to comment on when discussions would resume between NTMS and the EPA, he said “sometime soon” but could not say when. Hunt said discussions had not broken down with the NTMS.

Hunt said more than three months ago, NTMS met with the EPA and asked the association to reconsider its position. He said, “We have not heard from them on the things we discussed.”