Philipsburg:--- Members of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) voted unanimously in favour of allowing the president of the WITU Claire Elshot to go back around the table with government to renegotiate the agreement with the three unions before she is authorized to sign the agreement.Furthermore, the teachers want government to remove points three and four from the agreement before Elshot can sign on behalf of the WITU and its members.
The two points that the teacher's wants removed, addresses the no work no pay policy. Attorney at law Shaira Bommel advised the teachers on Monday afternoon that it is useless for the WITU to file an injunction against government now, when government already commits itself to paying the remainder of the 3.3% cost of living allowances in July of this year. Bommel said while an injunction case can take place within 48 hours, execution of the outcome of that injunction can take months.
However, the lawyer said that should government fail to live up to the agreement then the teacher's (WITU) can file the injunction and ask for interest for late payments.Bommel also informed the teachers that government can execute the no work no pay policy since its law but they as teachers have rights that they can claim, such as requesting interest when they are paid late. Interest for late payment of salaries ranges from 5% to 50% which is laid down in the payment policy.
A meeting is scheduled with the Prime Minister and the President of the WICSU/PSU and ABVO for Tuesday where the two unions will express their concerns on the discrimination levied against the teachers when the Minister of Education and the school boards decided to implement the no work no pay policy on all teachers.