Hundreds of teachers in Antigua and Barbuda performed their duties for the first time in many days, ending industrial action over security, better working conditions, and reclassification. Although the teachers showed up for work, they have been withholding their services.
And after hours of deliberations and moves by the Ministry of Education to address some of their issues, the teachers decided to return to the classroom in “good faith”.
“What perhaps has happened is that the union and its members or the executive and the members of the union felt that the progress was slow, not that it wasn’t happening, but it was just taking too long,” Education Minister Daryll Mathew told reporters in St Johns.
He said while he disagreed with the decision taken by the teachers, they claimed they had no other choice.
“Of course, I disagree with that course of action, but it was the course of action that was chosen. We continue to do our work and today we are in a place where schools will be opened Thursday as normal”, Matthew said.
Adding, “There were about 25 persons who had some issues that prevented the upgrades. Those issues included matters such as incorrect spelling of the name and insufficient documentation. And the membership of the union stood in solidarity with those 25 persons, indicating that they were not prepared to end industrial action until those 25 persons’ matters were resolved,” he said.
The Antigua and Barbuda Teachers Union and the government are expected to continue discussions in the coming weeks to ensure all the outstanding issues are met.
The power of the teachers is greater than the vagabonds in power. The lesson for all workers, electors and activists is simply this: “Where there is UNITY there is always VICTORY.”