In December 2002, the Ministry of Education (MOE) had promised that the quantification of arrears for each teacher would have been completed in three (3) months time. TTUTA insisted early in 2003 that the MOE make all necessary arrangements to ensure an April deadline for this quantification and subsequently demanded that all payments be made by September 2003.

By the end of September, after some strong public statements by the Association, payments began with a first batch of some 3000 teachers. To date approximately 9000 eligible teachers have received payments, but payments are still outstanding to some 1000 teachers. Several of these 1000 teachers have not even received liability statements, as the MOE once more demonstrates its inefficiency, disrespect and contempt for the welfare of teachers.

In December 2003, the Central Executive as a group descended on the MOE in an effort to compel it to act with greater urgency. In the face of the continued lethargy of the MOE, members of the General Council and members of the Conference of Delegates, along with affected teachers, picketed the MOE on April 19, 2004, the first day of the new term in action entitled 'Solidarity With My Comrade'. In a subsequent meeting with the Minister of Education, the MOE promised to:

i) Ascertain within two weeks the status of the payment process for each of the affected teachers reflected in a list compiled by TTUTA, as well as those on the list of queries received at the MOE;

ii) Share such status reports with TTUTA and the individual teachers involved;

iii) Establish within two weeks a special Help Desk at the Head Office of the MOE, to respond to the concerns of the affected teachers;

iv) Continue the payment process with urgency;

v) Devote additional human resources to the Liability Section of the MOE;

vi) Publish advertisements in the national newspapers outlining the steps being taken by the MOE to complete all outstanding payments in a prompt fashion;

vii) Shortly inform TTUTA of its proposed time lines for completion of payments to all eligible teachers.

TTUTA had to condemn the tardiness of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in having teachers lagging behind their counterparts in Trinidad with absolutely no receipt of payments even up to the end of October. A mobilisation process was begun in Tobago and payments have been speeded up.

TTUTA continues to monitor this situation and will take appropriate action to ensure that all eligible teachers receive their payments.

April 2004