Β Public school teachers across Antigua have launched a sit-in today, demanding the government address years of unpaid allowances and benefits owed to them. The industrial action follows a directive from the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (A&BUT), which has called for all public school teachers to participate until their demands are met.
A letter from A&BUT President Casroy Charles outlined the union’s decision after the Ministry of Education and other relevant entities failed to deliver outstanding payments by the noon deadline this past Friday.
The letter emphasized the government’s neglect to fulfill its financial obligations to educators, stating, βThe Ministry of Education and the other entities who are tasked with the responsibility of issuing all outstanding payments for allowances failed to issue the obligatory remuneration to all of the deserving individuals.β
The union has specifically identified three categories of allowances that have not been paid for several years.
These include the Technical Vocational Disciplines Allowances covering the period from 2018 to 2024, the Travel and Telephone Allowances designated for Principals and Deputy Principals for the years 2018 to 2023, and the Outstanding Ex gratia Payments for Heads of Department for the period from 2018 to 2021.
As a result of the sit-in, operations at primary and secondary schools throughout the island have been significantly disrupted, leaving parents and students in a state of uncertainty regarding classes and educational activities.
The A&BUT has stated that it will continue the sit-in until satisfactory resolutions are achieved regarding the overdue payments.
The situation remains tense as teachers advocate for their rights and the overdue remuneration they believe is justly owed to them.
Generally, most civil servants are grossly underpaid. They struggle mightily to makes ends meet. In fact, too many of them live in subtle poverty. After paying bills, they have hardly any money left and are absolutely ‘BROKE’ coming to the end of the month.
Two groups of civil servants that should be taken care of are teachers and nurses. They are often greeted and underpaid. Just imagine a country without teachers and nurses.
The failure of the Gaston Browne’s maladministration to adhere to their bargaining agreement, is like a recurring decimal.
Quite conspicuously, the two most incompetent, dysfunctional and depraved governments in the English-speaking Caribbean are easily Antigua Barbuda and Dominica – Siamese Twins.
In Unity is Strength. I am in solidarity with you all.
In Dominica, Chi-Chi would send his Manicou Gang to harrass and charge you all. If you want this very LAZY Prime Minister in Dominica to PEE-PEE on him, just mention the words protest, strike or demonstration.
Gaston is filthy rich, he needs to pay you all. STAND UP!ππππππ€π€π€π€π€π€