Ashworth Azille, president of the Antigua Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT), says that there was no way that the union would accept the 1 or 2 percent salary increase being offered by the government, for the teachers it represents.
In Azille’s defense, he referred to a promise made by Prime Minister Gaston Browne during the 2018 Budget Speech when he offered a 5 percent increase to all public servants and stated that that increase would not prejudice future negotiations.
Before then, the ABUT had asked for a 15 per cent increase over a three-year period — a proposal that Azille said had been submitted two years ago. He had stated that when a negotiation job is given to a government team and they come clearly as if they have no mandate, it is counter-productive to the process of good negotiations.
Azille added that the negotiating team’s inability to present any mandate at all, was prolonging negotiations at a disadvantage to the teachers.
According to Azille, negotiations are still underway and that the union has not lessened its resolve to get what was promised to them. He said that while the union is not trying to break the government’s back, the government has made an obligation to all public servants.
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“Oh! What A Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice To Deceive”
Ashworth Azille you got caught by the election gimmicks. It’s a sad day when public servants and politicians play games with people livelihood because they supporting them dam party.
In Azille’s defense, he referred to a promise made by Prime Minister Gaston Browne during the 2018 Budget Speech when he offered a 5 percent increase to all public servants and stated that that increase would not prejudice future negotiations.
Exactly my point they took the Puppet Master work that doesn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Ask me if I am sorry for them hell no, them love politicians more than themselves, now them a ball. All I will say the chicken has come home to roost. Wake up teaches stop been used stand up and fight.
2% in an Economic Powerhouse? Come better than that!
oh my goodness 2%… this government must be crazy. Do they understand the importance of teachers? I admire and have utmost respect to anyone who teaches, cause it’s a tough job.
2% is an insult, it is said they are saying we are not going to raise your social security deduction for this year. I guess when you look at it like that it’s a win!
The Union as i recall asked for 25 percent in 2018. Though willing to accept the 5% at the time they made clear, their opinion, it was insufficient. Whatever figure they get to must be based on inflation during the period. The inflation data for 2015 ( 0.97%), 2016 (-0.49%), and 2017(2.43), 2018 ( 1.21) is nothing close to to 15% or even the first requested 25%. The figure are easily obtained via the Central bank website.Seems For the union we should pretend the the large drop in fuel prices (14.99 in early 2015 to 12.50 have not positively impacted our cost of living.
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