Dear Editor,

It is quite normal to think that being a part of a group would make one empathise with the others’ concerns. Yet this apparently is not the case.

In recent times the Jamaican public has had a front-row seat to the complaints and cries of the teachers of this land. In a matter of days the public witnessed protest action, discourse, bargaining, and eventually an apparent agreement on the part of the union said to be speaking for the 20,000-plus voices who educate the nation’s students.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) operates under the motto “Unite and serve”. It acts as an advocate for the needs and defence of teachers in Jamaica. But its recent actions call into question whether it truly serves teachers.

Many teachers were quite put off, and to state it bluntly, disgruntled at the chain of events that saw an agreement being signed on their behalf. Initially, the decision to sit in by a group of teachers at a single school was met with sharp rebuke as it was believed the action may be interpreted as antagonistic towards the Government. However, this was rebuffed and the protest action not only continued but spread.

Eventually, an offer was brought that was rejected flatly. Yet some amongst the teaching band were in a mood to settle, citing the retroactive sums as their reason for wanting same. Soon it was announced that should an agreement not be reached, retroactive sums would not be paid until sometime in the future, most likely in another year or so. This served to rattle the already nervous few who voiced their concern. Meetings were scheduled online to accommodate emergency talks amongst the teachers and eventually the decision was taken to accept the minutely improved wage offer.

Some teachers, after seeing this, were most gutted by the actions of the union. They felt betrayed. Some opine that the negotiation was not for teachers but for principals. Anyone who questions this only need look at the teachers’ salary scale, which was widely ventilated and discussed in the media.

What now irks the vast majority of teachers is the move by JTA Secretary General Dr Mark Nicely to withdraw the form that is used to cease membership with the union. This writer is neither surprised nor is he confident in the powers that be. Teachers are neither respected nor loved. We are seen as the burden bearers who must be told what to do and when to do. And at the end of doing, “hold dis” as compensation, dooming us to suffer in silence all while publicly the circus masters applaud and present us with wooden plaques, cheap paper awards, and tea cups for our efforts.

What will be the reality of our children? What will be the future of our nation? It is small wonder that the general public fails to see the end result of where its ill-advised vitriol will lead as many did not take heed to the many lessons that would have opened their eyes to the reality now faced. The Government also seems not to care as their solution is to hire teachers from other jurisdictions to fill the void being left by the stalwarts who are leaving in droves for better shores, while replacing them with those teachers who are either not fully trained or those who have done their work dutifully and with grace and are now resting after a valiant fight. If this is the reality of Jamaica, land we love, then I cry for my beloved homeland as dark days are soon to become darker.

If teachers want to leave the JTA, the process should be seamless. And if there is no outcry to this then we will know for sure that the teachers of Jamaica are only puppets being manipulated for the entertainment of the leadership.

Tycon Allwood

Concerned and disheartened teacher

sirallwood1@gmail.com