PM Browne Accuses Political Operatives Within Teachers’ Union of Undermining Education System
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has accused elements within the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT) of using recent industrial action for political purposes, warning that their actions risk harming students and undermining the education system.
Speaking on Pointe FM on Saturday, Mr Browne said he believes the leadership of the union includes individuals “who are political activists of the UPP” and are leveraging the dispute over unpaid allowances to score political points.
“There are certain political elements within the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers who are also activists of the UPP, who are now trying to bring politics into the fray,” Mr Browne said. “They’re not coming with clean hands.”
The prime minister said that while the government acknowledges the right of teachers to advocate for their entitlements, the continuation of the strike even after nearly all payments had been processed was excessive.
“By Wednesday there were only six individuals who had not received their cheques,” he said. “We pleaded with union officials — it’s only six people now, please go back to work.”
He added: “That type of behaviour is disproportionate. It is excessive.”
The strike action came amid delays in disbursing allowances for school administrators and technical subject teachers. Government officials said all remaining cheques had been issued by Friday.
Mr Browne insisted that most teachers remained dedicated to their students and should not be painted with the same brush. However, he criticised the union’s leadership for allowing “a loud minority” to drive the agenda.
“If we allow those individuals to exercise an outsized influence on the teachers’ union, they’re going to become destructive,” he said. “They’ll undermine the progress of our youth.”
The prime minister concluded with a broader appeal, saying: “Our children can’t stand up for themselves — we have a responsibility to protect them. And if individuals are taking disproportionate action that could prejudice their development, then we have to call it out.”
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Idiot Browne, when we had strike at Swiss American bank for you to get your money it was 100% effective because we all stayed home. Teachers I urge you to not give in until EVERYBODY get their money. Who the hell Gaston “Idiot” Browne think he is. Its always everybody else’s fault, never willing to admit his administration mistakes.
Why the hell are you always so angry, what is your major malfunction in life punk?
What happen, the goat come back?
I agree with you wholeheartedly. When the president of the Teacher’s Union is an executive of the AWU nothing different was going to be the outcome. Yes there was a vote, but we did not vote unanimously. Some of us sort for continued dialogue. Granted we have been at this for years, but for some of us a strike was not the way.
This guy cries about everything. This is how unions are suppose to work, labours and employers have one agreement in exchange your my skills you pay us. If you don’t play them then this is one of many actions workers can take. This is even thought in public schools.
The quarry workers exercised their right by organizing a go slow causing a stone shortage in Antigua a while ago.
Then you have the heart to say this is a political issue, and so what they didn’t get paid like if they are not people, Antigua needs money for literally everything to live there is very little social benefits. You say things like then while having a front of being a party that backs labourers when you don’t even want them to get paid.
This man cried about Alfa Nero sale which he did, then when he got consistences to that he blame it on politics when it’s in International news from his doing.
This man brags about how much money Antiguans making this and that about the gdp, blames politics when teachers and other public workers for striking when they aren’t paid for years.
Foreign countries talking about how CBI, is the hub of Antigua’s money laundering issues and used by bad actors to get into EU and UK.
He blames everything on politics and opposition when he calls them incompetent and can’t even stand on their own two feet. So which is it? they did it or was it of your own doing?
Everything he says just annoys me and sound tremendously dumb. Can’t people genuinely have an issue from not being paid, not being supported, and not having a good work environment.
He always think life is just about him, people are there acting in good-faith wanting better for students and teachers and get their hard earned money.
Him always with his ignorant political operative nonsense like people are terrorist, spies and criminals for demanding him to do basic things like pay, acknowledge challenges people are facing that good leaders can easily solve but not him.
Mr. Prime Minister I believe you are targeting the wrong persons. The UPP supporters you have working in the Ministry of Education are the ones that are sabotaging your government. The president of the union never wanted the strike. Him and his team always want to give the LAZY PEOPLE IN CHARGE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION a chance to get there acts together but the teachers are fed up and want their money. So they have no choice. What you need to do is get rid of the people that are making you look bad and transfer them to other departments. A party in power should never allow anyone that supports the opposition party to be in position where can sabotage your party. Whether it’s IPP OR ALP in power get rid of them. You have UPP people working in the various ministries who refuse to do their work because they don’t want the government to look good. GET RID OF THEM.
There he goes with the blame game again! It is getting so old and repetitive! We are glad that someone is holding the government’s feet to the fire. Only god knows that they don’t care about the working class!!! Constantly pandering to the upper class and want the lower class to eat stone.