‘No less than $291k monthly’ Crawford bats for teachers
Opposition Spokesperson on Education, Senator Damion Crawford, has expressed concern over the ongoing wage negotiations between the nation’s teachers and the government.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Crawford emphasised that educators have sacrificed enough and should not be expected to sacrifice any further.
There has been increased industrial action taken by teachers islandwide who are demanding a liveable salary. Many schools have had sit-ins, resulting in students having to stay home during these protests.
READ: WATCH: Fed up teachers stage sit-ins at St Elizabeth schools over wage talks
WATCH: Teachers protest at Manchester schools
Crawford suggested that for teachers to have a liveable wage, the government should suggest no lower than $291,000 gross salary, with a net pay of $212,430 after deductions.
“The teachers should not be asked to sacrifice further. Having been asked to sacrifice under the debt exchange, having been asked to sacrifice under the IMF (International Monetary Fund) agreement, having been asked to sacrifice under the last two years, they should not be reasonably asked to sacrifice themselves and their families into perpetuity with a salary that is not within the liveable range,” Crawford said.
The Opposition spokesperson encouraged teachers to not be dissuaded by what the government is proposing, which he has described as half-truths and baseless accusations.
“As the teachers continue to lobby for nothing less than a liveable wage, we encourage them not to be dissuaded by untruthful statements being posited by the government that if the agreement isn’t reached by mid-march then the government will not able to make payments lump sum of the back monies owed to the teachers,” Crawford said.
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke announced during his budget presentation that more than half of the Government’s $657.2-billion allocation for non-debt recurrent expenditure will go towards the compensation of public sector employees as the Administration forges ahead with its wage restructuring programme.
However, Crawford suggested that Clarke put the funds in escrow— a measure he said has been used by the current ministry— to ensure negotiations can continue if needs be.
“Firstly, the ministry and the minister should and could place funds currently available in escrow which is facilitated by the law, which essentially states that all funds must be spent in the year budgeted except as is provided by law which an escrow should qualify. It would mean, therefore, that the funds currently held by the government could be placed from this budget (2022/2023) into escrow and have no impact on the budget 2023/2024,” Crawford argued.
He further reiterated the People’s National Party’s support of the educators and said the party would be willing to assist with legal services should it be required.
“The PNP is willing to commit to teachers and other members of the public sector to offer whatever legal services that are necessary if they are being unfairly and unduly treated by the government – which has multiple options to have negotiations in good faith and have the funds available for lump sum payment if it is so desired,” Crawford stated.
