John questions Charles’ commitment to Union

Some members of the local teachers’ union are wondering if the political ambitions of their president, Elvis Charles, accounted for “the dormancy” of the Union with regard to the resolution of outstanding contentious issues with the government.{{more}}

On Tuesday, August 24, Charles was selected as the ruling Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) candidate for Central Kingstown in the upcoming general elections.

But Philbert John, who was general secretary of the teachers’ union between 2008 and April this year, told SEARCHLIGHT on Monday, August 23, that some teachers were concerned that Charles shirked his responsibilities to the Union to advance his political career.

John was referring to the incomplete reclassification exercise and an unsuccessful attempt by teachers to secure a five per cent salary increase. He said these issues had been ongoing for the past 18 months.

He said teachers were also concerned about whether Charles’ political ambitions were “compromising the Union’s position on some of those very contentions issues”.

“That is the crux of the matter,” John said.

He added: “I have no problem at all with Elvis Charles’ ambitions … but at the same time, he has to answer the question of whether or not that is responsible for some of the dormancy relating to some of the issues on the table.

But John’s concern may have come a little too late.

Charles, “excited” with being selected candidate, told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, August 24, that he will announce his resignation as President of the teachers’ union at a press conference on Monday, August 30.

“Being nominated for a political office will make it rather unethical for me to hold two positions. So, I intend to resign from the presidency of the Teachers’ Union,” said Charles, who became president of the Union in April.

He, however, said he had always been true to his responsibilities as president of the Union.

“When it comes to teachers’ business, I have never shirked my responsibility. I have never backed away from any issues. … You don’t have to be in conflict with a government or go to a discussion or go to any negotiation being angered as though we are fighting a war,” Charles told SEARCHLIGHT.

He said that his Union and other labour groups representing teachers were earlier this year satisfied that Prime Minister Gonsalves was reasonable in offering a three per cent salary increase rather than the five per cent teachers wanted, in light of the economic circumstances.

Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Finance, had promised to pay five per cent in June, retroactive to January, if the economy improved.

“Everyone thought it was fair. And, in these harsh economic times, every union must be careful about their negotiations for higher wages, lest we look very stupid,” Charles said.

He said some teachers were expecting the increase “at all costs”.

“How would they feel to get the money and then we have to lay off workers because you couldn’t continue paying that kind of money?” he said.

Charles added that his executive felt it was better to “thread cautiously on these ground and not encourage the government to retrench any teacher.”

“It was not shying away. … Even though they are unresolved, they have not been thrown off the front burner,” he affirmed.

(KXC)