St. Maarten Private Eye

From SMN News

WITU President And Members Votes On Motion To Go Back To School Today

Philipsburg: --- All teachers of both public and government subsidized school returned to their classrooms today. The decision was taken unanimously at the WIFOL recreational center last night. The teachers had to meet last night after it was clear that the promised pay slips was not delivered on time and the monies was deposited at the bank after midday yesterday. Claire Elshot President of Windward Island Teachers Union said that the WITU received confirmation from the banks that the monies have been deposited and they were working overtime last night to make sure those monies are on the teachers accounts. Just prior to the convening of the second meeting for the day, the teachers checked their accounts and there were monies paid.

Based on that the teachers have decided that there is no need to continue further actions providing that the teachers are not sanctioned, Elshot said that even though the teachers are back at school there are a number of educational issues that are pending and the union will continue to tackle them in the coming days. Those issues are the delay in processing purchase orders for school books and other materials, and also the lack of hygienic materials that teachers have to take from their homes to school. “Can you imagine basic cleaning products and toilet paper are not in schools” Elshot said. She said that innovations in education does not mean a little program here or there but the school’s basic needs have to be met and other materials should be added.

She said while the island is busy with building hotels and other grand buildings, government should make sure an Olympic swimming pool is built because the once a swimming lessons for third grades are not enough.

The WITU President said that it is time that social justice and monies be placed into education for the benefit of the island’s youths.

Asked if the monies (retroactive pay) that was paid out on Friday and yesterday is properly tallied Elshot said that it is far to early for them to say if the monies are correct because up to now the teachers did not have the promised pay slips and placement (job description) letters which would guide them into the calculations.

The WITU and it’s members she said have 30-days to contest the payments if it is not correct and the union will utilize their rights to appeal.

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