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A section of the audience at last evening’s Democratic Labour Party’s Facts conference.

Jones: No work, no pay!

HOW can you expect to be paid if you don’t work?

That’s the question posed by Education Minister Ronald Jones while addressing the Democratic Labour Party’s Facts conference at the George Lamming Primary last night.

His comments come against the backdrop of a recent memo issued to the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) by the Permanent Secretary in his Ministry, stating that the salaries of wages of employees who go on strike will not be paid for any day or portion of the day on which they were on strike. However the BSTU contends that the March of Disrespect was not a strike.
Jones, while highlighting his background in the trade union movement, stressed his support for teachers, saying he wants them to do their best for the island’s children.

According to him, “If occasionally I have to speak about punctuality, absenteeism, please do the work for the money paid. There is nothing wrong with that. There can’t be anything wrong with that. If at the end of the day you withdraw your services. I can’t pay you,” he said, while stressing that it was not his remit to issue salaries.

“Do you think you should be paid? I don’t understand it. So why quarrel with me? I have never yet controlled one cent outside of my salary of the national purse.

“Teachers earn a special responsibility. We have in our schools children as early as three years old… who must be supervised on a daily basis. They must be fed spiritually, emotionally, cognitively, all of those things they must be given, and teachers are equipped to give them.

“If they don’t give that because of their absence, something happens. Some violence ensues, because there is no adult supervision. These are our children. Over 62 000 of our children in public and private schools.”

Jones recalled that in his days in the Union, meetings were called after 3 p.m., generally around four in the evening to allow persons from farther parishes to make their way to Merry Hill. He said if a decision was taken to “rumble”, it was done knowing that their salaries would be docked.

“I’ve had docked salaries as a teacher and a trade union leader. I don’t have a convenient mind.”

He said there is a standing rule that if the employer causes the action across the negotiating table then pay would not be docked. However if the other party is responsible, “you have to suffer the consequences”.

Saying he does not crumble to threats, he said someone has to stand up for the 62 000 of the island’s children. He assured that he also speaks harshly to the students recognising the resources spent on education.

As it relates to the teaching profession, he revealed that there is currently a folder with over 6 000 young people who want to teach in the island’s schools.

“We only have 3 200 teachers in Barbados. And teachers by or large spend 40-plus years in the teaching service. I say to those who are qualified and who want to venture further afield… we have the people well qualified to go and spread their wings. As young people there is nothing wrong with spreading your wings. The world can be a good teacher if you are willing to learn,” he said. (JH)

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