Teachers across Antigua and Barbuda have begun receiving retroactive salary payments, but their union insists the government has yet to fully meet its obligations.
The government has stated that $3 million was disbursed to cover arrears. However, Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT) President Casroy Charles said the amount is “insufficient” and leaves hundreds of educators unpaid.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, teachers were entitled to a reclassification of salaries from January 2024. That adjustment only came into effect this summer, creating arrears for the intervening months.
“So yes, there were some retroactive payments, but I want to make it clear to everyone the payments that were disbursed was insufficient,” Charles said in an interview on state media. “It was in the media that the government would have paid $3 million in regard to said payments. However, that’s due to over 1,400 teachers and the least payment, if I can recall for that period, was $2,400. If you were supposed to divide $2,400 into $3 million, you will see there is a shortfall.”
Charles said that while more than 1,000 teachers have received their monies, “hundreds are still awaiting said payment,” urging the government to “honour your obligation.”
The ABUT president added that the matter should have been settled since June and is now more than two months overdue, creating frustration among educators and putting strain on the union’s otherwise cooperative relationship with government officials.
“The problem we have with the ministry and has always had with the ministry is them meeting deadlines,” Charles explained. “When they fail to meet the deadlines, it’s not that we pull away and take industrial action immediately. But if, in our opinion, the interventions that are necessary to correct the deficiency are insufficient, that’s when we take the stance of industrial action because you would have failed.”
No definitive date has yet been given for when the outstanding teachers will be paid.
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Please let me have my check.
Thanks
Wait a minute! So we didn’t know this before school re-opened its doors? Another strike? Asking for myself!!!!
Boy, go look hard work to do, you lazy bastard. You have already convinced the nation as to what a jackass you are. School has re-opened now. Time to respect the children in your charge. Get your la,y arse up and commence the work that taxpayers are paying you to do! Lazy, idle bastard!