Belmont teachers weighing refuse-to-work option

AFTER the confrontation last Friday between gunmen and a safety officer at the Belmont Secondary School last week, frightened teachers are said to be exploring all  their options, including the right to refuse to work because of an unsafe environment.

Also, the school's Parent Teachers Association (PTA) is threatening to withhold students from classes until a damaged perimeter fence at the back of the school is repaired. Members of the PTA protested outside the school on Monday.

President of the TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Martin Lum Kin told reporters on Monday that teachers there had been working under less than acceptable conditions for a long time and the incident was serious enough to warrant changes.

He spoke during May Day celebrations in San Fernando organised by the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM).

“An industrial officer is presently (sic) at the school advising and guiding our members in doing the refusal-to-work (option).

“I believe they have a very good argument to institute the refusal to work because they have been working under these conditions for quite a long time, for a number of years.”

He outlined a number of security issues, including the breach to the perimeter fence and the removal of a school safety officer.

“There were supposed to be two safety officers at this point in time. The ministry saw it fit to remove one and send him to another school.

“When we (TTUTA) visited last Friday, we observed there were three out of the complement of four security officers at the gate.

"That is not sufficient. Teachers have had enough. TTUTA has had enough. It is time the ministry ensures safety for all people on the plant.”

“Is it that someone has to be injured or, God forbid, killed on the plant?” he asked.

“We understand the ministry’s plight in terms of finances, but we are saying this is serious and they have to find money to deal with it.”

Lum Kim also addressed the “exploitation” of substitute teachers to fill vacancies.

Many substitute teachers are not unionised members and hence do not enjoy the same benefits as TTUTA members.

Nevertheless, Lum Kim said, TTUTA will make representation to the ministry to ensure all teachers – whether substitutes or not – are given their just due in terms of salaries.

“Substitute teachers cannot be seen as parallel to the teaching service. The ministry cannot be using temporary teachers to fill vacancies and have it prolonged in terms of not having those established positions filled with the requisite personnel.”

Accounting for the absence of a large number of TTUTA members from the May Day rally, Lum Kin said teachers were eager to return to classrooms on Monday to make up for the time lost because of the bomb threats last Friday.

“Although they are not present physically, teachers stand in solidarity with TTUTA and the trade union movement, and we are here to represent this.”