As more than 40 contract teachers are threatening to sue the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) over discrimination and inequitable salaries, secretary for Education of the THA, Huey Cadette, says they must blame their union.
Yesterday, the attorney representing the teachers, Martin George, said the teachers had concerns about what they claim to be discrimination and inequality of treatment as compared to regular members of the Teaching Service.
George said teachers claimed the THA did not even call them “Teachers” but perpetuated their positions in an inferior status known as “Educators.”
“They allege that they do not have the same benefits, perks, terms and conditions as regular Teachers while still performing the same duties and discharging the same responsibilities,” George said.
“They claim they are even treated worse and lower than even Trinidad contract teachers.”
Through their Attorneys Martin George & Co, the teachers are threatening judicial review and claims also for breaches of their constitutional rights.
However, in an interview yesterday afternoon, Cadette said the teachers needed to blame their salaries on the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA).
“When TTUTA negotiated for teachers and the salaries were adjusted in April, this did not include a salary adjustment for contract teachers,” Cadette said.
Cadette said he did not receive any correspondence regarding legal action by teachers, but said he had met with teachers on a number of occasions about the matter.
Contract teachers are used to filled voids in the teaching service, for situations where a teacher may be on leave or similar circumstances.
In most cases contract teachers are absorbed by the teaching service and appointed as permanent teachers.
Cadette said Tobago had had challenges regarding the number of vacant positions in the teaching services and a delay in appointing contract teachers.
He refused to allow blame for teachers salaries to fall on the THA however.
“We have no control over teachers’ salaries. They have to take it up with TTUTA,” Cadette said.
He said the THA had done what it could to ensure the salaries of contract teachers were commensurate with that of appointed teachers.
“With the understanding that the contract teachers and the appointed teachers have the same duties, we have gone to the executive council of the THA to increase the salary for contract teachers but it would not come in line perfectly.”
Cadette said the problem lay with salary ranges, so that while a contract teacher and an appointed teacher may both be in the same grade, an appointed teacher with more years of service may command a higher salary.
TTUTA President Davanand Sinanan, in a brief telephone interview yesterday was hesitant to comment on the matter.
“If the teachers decide to take the matter to court they are well within their rights to take any matter to court,” Sinanan said.
Asked whether the matter had been discussed with TTUTA, Sinanan said only that the union had a duty to represent all members and di this all the time.