Barbados Union of Teachers Threatens Disruption Over Vacation Leave Dispute

With only weeks before the school term ends, the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) warned on Thursday it could “disrupt the education sector” if the Ministry of Education fails to grant eligible teachers their term’s vacation leave soon.

In a statement, the union’s president, Rudy Lovell, said educators were frustrated at being denied this benefit over several years. He said the union would be advising members of the “next steps to take in retaliation”.

“Teachers are uneasy and frustrated with the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training over the ongoing uncertainty surrounding term’s vacation leave,” Lovell said.

He explained that in 2014 the then government changed the terms so the paid leave was only granted to those applying for it for the first time and those about to retire, without consulting the union. Teachers who have worked for 15 years or more are entitled to a term’s paid leave every five years.

In 2017, nine teachers brought a lawsuit against the ministry. Last December, High Court Justice Shona O Griffith ruled that teachers should be consulted on such changes and that the ministry breached this by not doing so. The judgment directed the ministry to negotiate with teachers.

Lovell said all attempts by the union to start talks had failed. “The judgment urged the ministry to meet with the BUT to discuss conditions relating to term’s vacation leave. However, months later there appears no move to adhere to the court’s decision.”

He described the ministry saying the issue was before the Ministry of the Public Service as “a delaying tactic”, adding: “This is not for them to determine.”

Lovell said denying leave could impact teachers’ well-being and have “broader implications for the education sector”. Timely resolution was essential “to restoring confidence and trust between educators and the ministry”, he added.

A ministry statement said it and the public service ministry were committed to engaging with the union but talks between the two ministries needed to conclude first before meeting the union, hopefully by the end of the school year.

The statement read in part: “Because the final decision taken did not rest with the Ministry of Education, the appropriate course of action is for the aforementioned ministries to conclude their discussions before all parties sit for the necessary talks. The Ministry of Education is aware of the considerable time passed since the request for the meeting, and is therefore committed to having the necessary discussions concluded before the end of the school year. The Ministry of Education … appreciates the patience extended as coordination efforts are underway between both ministries to bring a conclusion to this matter.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb