A political response

31.AUG.07

Editor: In light of recent attacks on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union’s leadership, it is important that we situate this reclassification exercise in its historical context.

In 1981, civil society, including the trade union movement, took to the streets of Kingstown to protest two bills that threatened democracy in the state.{{more}}

The beneficiary of that popular struggle was the Sir James Mitchell New Democratic Party (NDP) which won the election in 1984.

In 1988-89, the NDP Administration conducted a reclassification exercise – the so called “Administrative Reform Programme.” A Canadian Consultant, Madeleine Page, was entrusted with the task. The project took less than a year to be completed. The views of the SVGTU were never sought, despite the union’s best effort to make an input.

When Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell presented the findings of the Administrative Reform Programme committee to Parliament, there were increases in salaries for some categories of workers; some workers received a decrease, while others stayed at their old scale. The prime minister, in making the presentation, hailed the adjustments in salaries as an increase. However, the majority of teachers did not benefit from these recommendations. In fact, when Sir Vincent Beache, the then Opposition Leader, asked the Prime Minister for an explanation, he replied that the SVGTU did not make a submission. That answer summed up the philosophy of the JF Mitchell-led administration on teachers.

The anomalies were so great that a special committee was set up under Mr. Henry Gaynes to deal with the irregularities; teachers are still awaiting the report from that committee.

On May 15, 1985, the Union submitted its proposals for a collective agreement; that agreement was signed on 17th day of March 1993.

The National Executive Report (1988) noted that the Honourable Prime Minister (Sir James Mitchell) refused to meet with the Union, despite several attempts by the Union to set up this meeting. He saw it fit to meet the Chamber of Commerce, the Public Service Union and other organizations. In fact, the only occasion he met with the Union was to discuss his proposals for Windward Islands Unity.

During the 17 years in office, the NDP as a party never acknowledged a letter from the Union, despite several attempts to meet with it to discuss issues relevant to education in the state.

In all its struggles during the eighties and nineties for the right to collective bargaining, salaries, maternity leave and to improve working conditions, did any member of the Nice Radio Panel of Armchair Experts support the Union in its struggle? It was their party in office, so they never saw it fit to support any cause, however worthy it was, unlike us who are never afraid to call a spade a spade. The point is, how can a group of people who never in their life demonstrated any interest or love for teachers be suddenly concerned to the point of attempting to dictate to teachers what they should do? For the record the Union struck on three occasions during the 17 years of the NDP Regime.

The struggle for the implementation of the reclassification process is just another indicator of how important the Union as an institution is.

Deniston Douglas, Industrial Relation
Officer, SVG Teachers’ Union