NEGOTIATIONS TAKE OFF AT LAST!
Salary to be first area for attention

Negotiations between the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association and the Chief Personnel Officer for a new Collective Agreement covering the period October 2002 to September 2005 finally began last Friday January 9, 2004.

Salary negotiations will be the first area for attention. The Association will do all in its power to ensure that teachers receive a proper salary, a salary that is reflective of their worth as professionals, and of their contribution to the development of a just, prosperous, equitable and safe Trinidad and Tobago.

Other areas for negotiation are a Group Health Plan for teachers, full retirement benefits after 25 years of service and the introduction of a new post in the Teaching Service, that of the Master Teacher, which recognises and promotes teaching excellence in the system.

The Association will continue to provide teachers with the necessary updates on developments at the negotiating table and asks that teachers keep abreast of all these developments.

Salary proposals submitted by the Association are as follows:

Consolidation of COLA

Ø     Job Evaluation using external labour market comparators
Ø     A 35% increase on the above
Ø     New COLA as follows

1st year $100.00
2nd year $150.00
3rd year $200.00