Education Minister, Daryll Matthew, is accusing the president of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT), Casroy Charles of ‘bad faith’ over his handling of the recent industrial action by teachers in the public school system.
Addressing the nation on the matter in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Matthew even suggested that there was ‘sinister motives’ in the way the ABUT behaved during the work-to-rule.
The minister noted that the negotiations with the ABUT and the government were done in a spirit of respect and without hostility with the government even suggesting additional benefits for senior teachers above what the union had proposed.
He explained that the ministry was constantly upgrading teachers as is required by the collective agreements and that payments were regularly being made to teachers.
Regarding the industrial action, Minister Matthew further explained that by Friday May 9, as far as the ministry was concerned, all the cheques were either received by teachers or were awaiting collection.
However, he reported that on Saturday, May 10, he received word that the ABUT planned to continue the industrial action into Monday, May 12. According to the minister when he sought clarification from the then permanent secretary, he was told that the ABUT President Charles had queried two cheques and he was told that the cheques would be ready for collection at 8:00 am on Monday.
“Notwithstanding that he was told that the cheques, two out of 200, would be ready for collection on Monday morning, Mr. Charles went ahead to instruct his members to continue the industrial action into a new week. When he was asked about this, his response was that the notice was sent prior to him getting clarity regarding the cheques. Knowing that the cheques would be ready and proceeding with the industrial action says to me that there is a more sinister motive why the industrial action would continue into Monday, even after being assured that the cheques in questions would be ready for collection,” Minister Matthew reported.
The education minister said it is important to expose the lies and misinformation surrounding the industrial action and the claims that the government was uncooperative or that neither the ministry of the treasury was doing its work. “That was simply not true. For the union to instruct its members to continue the industrial action speaks to bad faith and one of the most glaring examples of irresponsible behavior that I have ever witnessed,” he declared.
