Dear Editor,

The protracted salary issue between the government and the teachers has come to a head with the teachers’ strike on May 3 and 4. In response to this, Finance Minister Mr Audley Shaw stated, “I cannot make blood out of stone”. That is good and we do not expect him to do so, neither should he expect teachers to make “blood out of stone”. I would like to remind the minister that they received a 100 per cent increase when public sector workers received single-digit increase.

This government has promised, time and time again, to pay us the money owing. In October 2009, an offer to pay the said money in four parts was proposed by the government (May and July 2010, a single payment in 2011, and a final payment in 2012). The teachers, wary of this offer, still signed off yet again in good faith. The first payment of this “new offer” is due in May 2010, and, according to the government, it will not be paid. What should we do with bills to pay, children to feed and other responsibilities and commitments that must be met?

The detractors will find ways in which to bash us, but education is a partnership with various stakeholders. We all have a role to play and where one falters, then the impact will be felt in other areas. We are demanding and fighting for what is rightfully ours and no one should try to cloud the issue with examination results at this time. The publication of the Grade 4 Numeracy is strategic as the results have been available for months. I have never seen any other public sector worker taking a broom or a mop and cleaning their area of work daily or taking money from their pockets to take care of those entrusted to them. Teachers do this and much more, when others have walked in our shoes and feel our pain, then they will probably understand why we have taken this stance.

V Miller

St Thomas

Janikil2@yahoo.com