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FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 16, 2015
by DAYLE DA SILVA OSWALD ROBINSON, President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union (SVGTU), remained confident that he and the rest of the members of his organisation achieved
VOLUME 109, No.42
what they set out to do, by staying away from the classroom on Tuesday, October 13. “I am satisfied within myself…I only went ahead with what decisions were made,” he told THE VINCENTIAN. The union’s membership, along with civil servants represented by the Public Service Union (PSU), took a decision to stage a one-day strike Tuesday, as both unions sought to pressure the government to pay a one month tax free salary, in lieu of the fact that they had not received a salary increase in four years. However, most schools throughout the country reported having full or nearly full capacity of staff and students on Tuesday. Institutions such as the Belmont Government School reported 11 out of 13 staff present; Cane End Government reported 9 of 10; South Left: Elroy Boucher, President of the PSU, is reportedly missing in action.
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Oswald Robinson (right), seen here in the company of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves during an Education Conference, November 2013, says his union is open to negotiations with the government. Rivers Methodist reported full turnout of staff; and the Spring Village Methodist reported full staff, with a few students absent. On the flip side, the Owia and Fitz Hughes Government Schools were heavily impacted by Tuesday’s strike, this according to reports relayed to THE VINCENTIAN via telephone. Owia reported that 5 teachers had not turned out, and less than 50 percent of the students were absent. At Fitz Hughes, the principal reported that less than half of the teachers and students were present.
Union’s count According to Robinson, about 40 percent of the total teacher complement did not attend school – this based on the numbers provided by the SVGTU’s office. Those who attended, operated on a work
to rule, or did nothing, the President said. The union’s president maintained that those who went to work, did so out of fear. He said that for his school, the Gomea Methodist Primary School, the student population was less than half. “So we did create an impact, despite the propaganda that was being circulated,” Robinson said.
Looking ahead Within recent times, the leadership of the SVGTU has been accused of getting too close to government. But Robinson said that he does not get involved in politics, and that he was proud to have stood up and executed a mandate that was given to him. Continued on Page 3.