Trade unions are an integral part of Barbados’ landscape and the benefits they have achieved for workers and their contribution to the country’s overall socio-economic development are clear for all to see.
For almost 75 years, the unions have been stoutly defending the rights of workers. For the most part, they have been very responsible, though not all of their positions have always been right or even justifiable.
Yesterday’s decision by the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) to call out all of its members to a special meeting at Solidarity House on the first day of school after the Christmas recess will be a talking point for some time. Yes, it was not a strike, but the action was clearly a manifested form of industrial action, meant to cause disruption.
There can be no uncertainty that the BUT and indeed the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) are unhappy with a number of situations within both our primary and secondary schools. It is also evident that there is an adversarial relationship between the unions and the Ministry of Education.
It’s also very clear that the ministry is exceedingly lethargic in dealing with a number of issues, often waiting until they reach boiling point before taking a decision. There are too many examples in recent times which point to ineffectiveness and foot-dragging on the part of the ministry, which appears to act as if not dealing with these matters will bring a meaningful resolution.
But while the ministry may move at the pace of a sloth, this does not mean the unions, in their strategy and positioning, should take action which is not in the best interest of students. It cannot just be about teachers and not the entire education system.
It seems the unions are prepared for a period of militancy to press home their points. But, whatever they do and any response from the ministry should avoid industrial conflict. Within the Ministry of Education, at many levels, resides the knowledge and experience as it relates to industrial relations and a first-hand understanding of the issues affecting teachers. These skills must be exploited.
Given the BUT’s action yesterday on the resumption of classes after a three-week holiday and the day after the teachers held their planning sessions, the union will need to respond to the fair question many reasonable people have raised: Why couldn’t the teachers have been called to a special general meeting on Monday, allowing for them to have their planning sessions either in the morning or afternoon without disruption to the teaching process?
Parents, guardians and many other Barbadians, even though sympathetic to teachers’ plight and challenges, will not be amused by this type of disruption in the education system. The situation must not be allowed to explode.
