{"id":241783,"date":"2019-12-23T11:30:40","date_gmt":"2019-12-23T15:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=241783"},"modified":"2019-12-23T11:37:41","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T15:37:41","slug":"an-open-letter-to-the-teachers-of-dominica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/homepage-carousel\/an-open-letter-to-the-teachers-of-dominica\/","title":{"rendered":"An open letter to the teachers of Dominica"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
DAT president, Mervin Alexander<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prior to the General Elections, following the meeting of the Prime Minister with teachers, I read with interest the letter to the editor on DNO entitled \u201cDivide and Rule Strategy by DLP and DAT Executive must end\u201d.<\/p>\n

I am not sure how this supposed group of teachers came to the conclusion that the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) is involved in a \u2018Divide and Rule Strategy\u2019. As far as I know, the aim of the DAT has always been to unite teachers, to seek better working conditions, better wages, and to promote professionalism among teachers. I would, therefore, urged this supposed group of teachers to please contact me or write to the DAT expressing your frustration and suggest ways you think the DAT can best meet your needs.<\/p>\n

Teachers, like one year, comes to an end and another begins it would be a useful exercise to take a critical look at yourselves and the humble and important profession in which you find yourselves in hope that change will take place for the better in 2020 and beyond.<\/p>\n

In January 2019, the DAT held a Special General Meeting with teachers to discuss its Group Medical Insurance and to seek ideas from teachers as to what sort of activities they would like to see their union organize.\u00a0 All issues raised at that meeting formed part of DAT\u2019s proposal for a new bargaining agreement, plus others which the National Executive deemed necessary for teachers in the execution of their duties. Some of these were addressed in the Government Budget\u2019s address for the fiscal year 2019\/20.\u00a0 Other matters such as appointments of teachers are being addressed.<\/p>\n

The idea of School Representatives at the schools which would facilitate easy dissemination of information is a matter that is being given attention and the National Executive is urging teachers to volunteer themselves to make this a reality, thus strengthening the union on the ground.<\/p>\n

At that meeting, teachers suggested that activities be organized for greater socialization among teachers and one suggestion was day trips to neighbouring islands.\u00a0 One such trip was organized and only eight teachers came.\u00a0 The attendance of teachers at the Teachers\u2019 Day activity was left to be desired. I want to remind\/inform teachers that this is a regular school day and Dominica is the only country in the Caribbean and probably the world where teachers get the day off to meet and socialize. This was negotiated by the DAT. As professionals, you ought to be mindful of that.\u00a0 In other islands of the region, teachers report to work as usual and if the Principal of a school so desires, he\/she treats his staff in the evening.<\/p>\n

While the constitution of Dominica allows for anyone to freely belong to any organization, it must be noted that the by instrument dated July 08, 1991, the Dominica Association of Teachers was approved as the \u201cRepresentative body in Dominica representing the interest of a category of public officers, namely Teachers.\u201d<\/strong>Thus the Dominica Association of Teachers is the Bargaining Agent on behalf of teachers in the Commonwealth of Dominica.<\/p>\n

There is a need for the teachers of this country to undertake a serious assessment of themselves.\u00a0 Teachers should be supporting each otherand not working against each other since they face the same challenges in the execution of their duties.<\/p>\n

Teachers, please take some time and look at your counterparts in the region and the wider world.\u00a0 Do you think they are where they are today by fighting against each other? No, they worked together with no matter what their differences were and as a result, they have been able to achieve much.\u00a0 Remember a house divided against itself cannot stand.<\/p>\n

Please take some time and learn about the various Teachers\u2019 Unions of the Region.\u00a0 Of course, their years of existence far exceeds that of the DAT, but we can all learn from their experience.<\/p>\n

Allow me to share a few historical facts of a few Teachers\u2019 Union in the region with you:<\/p>\n

Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA)<\/strong> \u2013A brief history of that organisation revealed that in the 1930\u2019s and 40\u2019s various specialised groups among teachers set up their own separate unions: the Association of Head Masters and Head Mistresses, the Association of Assistant Master and Mistresses, the Association of Teacher Training Staff, Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions.\u00a0 In 1961, they realised that this division among them lessen their strength in dealing with private and public employers so they joined forces and became the Joint Executive of Teachers Association (JETA) and was later converted to the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA).\u00a0 With a new united strength, they became more militant and in 1966 launched their first successful national teachers strike over salaries and have consequently held other walk outs to meet their demands.\u00a0 The JTA is the only organisation bargaining on behalf of all <\/strong>teachers in Jamaica.\u00a0 They have organized their own Teachers\u2019 Credit Union. To see their Headquarters in Jamaica is a sight to behold. (See \u2018A History of Organised Labour in the English-Speaking West Indies\u2019 by Robert J Alexander in collaboration with Eldon M. Parker)<\/em><\/p>\n

St. Lucia Teachers Union(SLTU)<\/strong> formed in 1934 has its own Credit Union<\/p>\n

The Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT)<\/strong> founded on June 20, 1913, has its own Teachers\u2019 Credit Union and its own Medical Insurance Company.<\/p>\n

St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union(SVGTU<\/strong>) also has its own Teachers\u2019 Credit Union.<\/p>\n

Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association<\/strong>\u00a0(TTUTA) – <\/strong>In 1978 teachers were represented by four unions: de\u00a0Public Services Association\u00a0(PSA), the Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TUTA), the\u00a0Trinidad and Tobago Teachers\u2019 Union, (TTTU), and the\u00a0Secondary School Teachers Association\u00a0(SSTA) which represented teachers in the so-called\u00a0\u201cprestige\u201d<\/em>\u00a0schools in the country. The three Trinidad unions were all recognized by the Education Act No. 1 of 1966 as the representative unions for teachers.<\/p>\n

Teacher dissatisfaction with representation by the three Trinidad unions had grown in the 1970s. There was the view that adversarial relations between the three units had severely hampered Industrial Relations in the Teaching Service. As early as 1966 there was a struggle between two of the three unions to be the sole representative for any class of or classes of teachers. The Special Tribunal No. 10 of 1974, which stated that any one of the three unions could represent any class or classes of teachers decided this issue. This resulted in rapid changes of membership among teachers. However, not one of these unions emerged as the majority union.<\/p>\n

The implications of teacher representation by four unions had several serious consequences. Any issue raised by one union with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) had to be discussed with each union separately. This resulted in the presentation of conflicting arguments to the CPO and advisors by the different unions, a situation which acted to the disadvantage of teachers. Additionally, negotiations were often lengthy with a consequently longer period for settlement. The relationship between the three unions was thus described as one involving a great deal of\u00a0\u201cinter-union rivalry and fragmentation\u201d<\/em>\u00a0which was seen as\u00a0\u201cthe biggest disadvantage when negotiating a collective agreement\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The period from March 1979 to December 1981, when TTUTA was finally recognised by the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board, was one of relentless struggle with the authorities in support of the cause for one union for all teachers. Thousands of teachers marched around the Red House and through the streets demanding that there be one umbrella body for all teachers.<\/p>\n

On April 24, 1980 TTUTA was registered as a Trade Union. It is worth noting that TTUTA got its name from adding the word ‘Trinidad’ to the ‘Tobago Unified Teachers Association’ thus resulting in the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association. In March 1981, the state presented a draft revision of the Education Act 1966, which allowed TTUTA to be recognised as a union for teachers, alongside the three other teachers unions in the country.<\/p>\n

This proposal was strongly rejected at a mass meeting of members of the Association in March 1981. Under continued pressure from the mass of teachers the government conceded and the Education Act, 1966 was amended to give TTUTA full recognition as the majority union for teachers. The Registration, Recognition and Certification Board accorded official recognition of the Association in December 1981.\u00a0 They too have their own Credit Union.<\/p>\n

Teachers, there are many more that can be said about teachers organisations in the Caribbean and the world, so please read and educate yourself and don\u2019t just sit on the side and cast aspersions.\u00a0 If the teachers of the region were not united, their achievements and successes would be not be so great. You are the educators of the land, I urge you to stop working against each other. If you are not satisfied with the present DAT Executive the time has come for you to get involved and change the course.\u00a0 No one can or will improve the conditions of teachers in Dominica unless the teachers of the country decide to come together under one umbrella and fight as a team.<\/p>\n

Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate the teachers who have been very productive in the execution of the duties in their classrooms and also in the development of themselves. \u00a0To those who are lagging behind, the time has come to increase your pace.<\/p>\n

On behalf of the National Executive, my wish for you is a peaceful and spirit-filled Christmas and 2020 in which your needs will be satisfactorily met.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0Teaching \u2013 The ONE PROFESSION<\/u> that makes all other Professions possible!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Prior to the General Elections, following the meeting of the Prime Minister with teachers, I read with interest the letter to the editor on DNO entitled \u201cDivide and Rule Strategy by DLP and DAT Executive must end\u201d. 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