Dear Editor,
The teachers are on strike to force the government into collective bargaining negotiations, and the Public Service Union is threatening the same, it would seem inevitable that everyone is going to sit down at the same table at some point, but I fear some have more to gain than others and the teachers may have more to lose; let me expound. The teachers are government workers, the same as nurses, doctors, police, fire, and army personnel; they are distinct from Public Service workers who are also government workers but operate under a different regime (The Establishment). Teachers have managed to outstrip their counterparts with higher salary levels and benefits, trainee teachers are making $94,000, the same as police corporals, while trainee nurses are on $16,000 monthly stipends. The government has to level the field before the teachers can get more; it would be difficult to convince any sensible arbitrator that teachers should be given more while others in similar sectors languish.
The additional benefits such as the Ministry of Education’s request that the Teaching Service Commission and the School Board Secretariat have two senior promotion cycles per year so that more teachers can be promoted and earn a higher salary, GOAL Scholarships (29% of teachers are on scholarships presently), a general waiver letter that allows teachers to travel abroad during the entire contracted period and duty-free cars are among the benefits that may have to be rescinded as part of negotiations, it seems there is no appreciation for benefits given freely. After we hear of what teachers want and what teachers are getting, there must be a discussion of the other side of the coin, namely, what are taxpayers getting for the billions expended on teachers annually? Are we getting high-quality teaching? Are our children getting the best possible education? Are all of our teachers qualified to teach?
It is mystifying to see the low bar set for qualifying to teach, 3 CXC passes (Grades 1-3) such a person needs to be in school as a student, not as a teacher! That is not to say that the teachers with better grades and qualifications are better, far from it. Currently, there is a glut of teachers in the system; one school in Essequibo has 80 teachers employed and it is not uncommon for two or more teachers to be tasked with teaching a subject to a single class; this has led to the appointment of floating teachers to schools to reduce the workload and substitute for teachers who are absent and the assignment of an assistant teacher to senior teachers in primary and nursery schools. It may be time for those complaining that they are unable to ‘eat’ or take overseas vacations on present salaries to move on to greener pastures they ‘deserve’ via the retrenchment route.
Editor, to be pellucid, my recommendation is for the government to go to the collective bargaining table with the teachers and all other unions at the appropriate time, but any union that enforces the collective bargaining clause should automatically forfeit all salary increases, special treatment, and benefits accrued; start the negotiations at ‘ground zero’, a total discard of the incremental, you can’t eat your cake and have it too. I am betting appreciation for the work of Minister Manickchand will soar as the realization of how hard she has endeavored to improve the lot of those in her sectors at the expense of others becomes clear. For those following the pied pipers in the TUC, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Sincerely,
Robin Singh
