Disgusted!

The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) is registering its disgust at yet another instance of late payment of the Spanish teachers in the primary school system.

This disgust was highlighted by the president of the BSTU, Mary Redman, during an interview with The Barbados Advocate recently, following a meeting which took place at the Grantley Adams Memorial School.

“This programme has been in existence in excess of 20 years and it is nothing new,” she said.

“However, within the last two years, the teachers, on occasion, have been experiencing a difficulty in receiving their payment. In September last year, some of the teachers were not paid until the 20th of October, four days before their second pay-day was due. Again for the January pay-day we have a situation where the teachers have not been paid as yet for work done for the whole month of January.”

She noted that the programme was not new and payment for these teachers is expected to be included in the Ministry’s estimates, which is why it is confusing that the teachers are yet to receive their monies for work done in January.

“It is very demoralising for them and they are treated by some officers in the Ministry in a demeaning and belittling manner when we or they have to attempt to access these persons to inquire about their payment,” she said.

“There have been instances where phones have been put down in their ears; that has certainly been the experience of our prior first Vice President on an occasion in his attempt to deal with this matter.”

Redman also highlighted the fact that when their cheques are in fact ready, they are told not to come before three in the evening.

Acknowledging that most banks closed at 3 pm, she classed this as unfair treatment as well.

“By 3 o’ clock most banks are already closed and their salaries are already late,” she said.

“They have already incurred financial penalties in situations where they had to make payments by specific dates. We do not understand why this is happening and at this point in time. Those teachers, too, will be reporting to the ministry on a daily basis until they are paid for January!”