The following press release was sent to the media on Wednesday 16th January.
The Anguilla Teachers’ Union continues to stage its sit-in action, in response to the failure of the Government of Anguilla to address a number of issues that they have been seeking to be addressed for well over a year.
The Union wishes to make it abundantly clear to all that the statements made by the Chief Minister regarding the industrial action taken by teachers are inaccurate and designed to mislead the public. The Union dismisses the notion that teachers are sitting in because they are demanding immediate payment of monies owed to them. The fact is, teachers are sitting in mainly because of the Chief Minister and government’s continued display of utter disrespect and disregard for them, as well as government’s failure to provide clarity on the issue of monies owed to them.
In a letter to the Chief Minister from the Union president, dated January 3rd, 2013, the disrespect was highlighted follows:
“Honourable Chief Minister, I have made a number of calls trying to meet with you and Dr. Aidan Harrigan. I have also left my mobile number for a return call, which I have not yet received. It is obvious that our leaders do not respect or value the educators of this nation nor any civil servant. We have had enough of the disrespect. We will not stand by and allow you to continue to disrespect our profession. We are tired of your fruitless meetings and we are of the impression that you have very little value for us. We have extended the olive branch to you on numerous occasions, even in the face of verbal abuse in the media . . . However, you, by your actions and or inactions, insist on civil servants following you blindly. We cannot afford to have your disrespect dragged out like the passing of the Education Act.”
The general public must know that the Union is currently asking the government to:
1. Treat teachers with respect and recognize the profession as noble. After all, teachers are the backbone of this nation
2. Issue a written statement to each teacher outlining the amount of money owed to him or her
3. Put measures in place immediately to ensure that teachers’ beneficiaries get the money owed to them in case they die before it is paid
4. Give teachers a written plan on how the government plans to the pay the monies owed. This plan should include specific dates
5. Cease from making any further salary cuts
6. Involve the Anguilla Teachers’ Union in the discussion of any related legislation.
Finally, teachers are not in agreement with the January 31st, 2013 cut-off date for the “deferred salary mechanism” until all of their stated issues are satisfactorily addressed.
The Union therefore dismisses the callous, untrue, and irresponsible statements made in the January 15th, 2013 sitting of the House of Assembly and in other public domains by the Chief Minister and other government officials.
Included is the untrue statement that the Government had scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, January 16th, 2013, with the Teachers’ Union for the purpose of addressing their issues. The meeting was, in fact, one that was organized by other Associations to discuss a unified document. At no time was the Union informed by the government that they would discuss the issues of teachers as outlined in our most recent letter, dated January 3rd, 2013.
Teachers are therefore of the firm belief that the industrial action taken by them is proper and absolutely necessary. They have the right to seek clarification and redress of any matters concerning them.
Furthermore, as soon as the government fulfills its obligation to satisfactorily address teachers’ issues, education in the classroom will continue. Teachers stand united on this matter.
Emma Ferguson
President
