Nearly two weeks have passed since the BSTU instituted action against the principal of the Alexandra School Jeff Broome. Up to late yesterday [14 Jan 2012] there appeared to be no resolution to the matter. A meeting held under the chairmanship of Minister of Education Ronald Jones only served to proved BU’s position, management systems in Barbados have become seriously compromised as a result of incestuous practices by stakeholders.
It is clear the BSTU Executive believes so strongly in their cause that they are prepared to disrupt the relatively calm industrial relations climate in Barbados even if the children have to be made to suffer in the process. Their position is further demonstrated by a deliberate move away from following ‘normal’ grievance procedure. Regrettably the matter is deliberately being waged in the court of public opinion. While there are advantages to enticing public support sometimes, it should be done based on the full facts of the matter being revealed. It is evident that the cause of the industrial action by the BSTU is as a result of grievances which have been poorly managed over the years and left to fester. The speech day incident appears to be the straw which broke the camel’s back.
If we are to believe the underground chatter there is more to the mortar than the pestle. If local media intends to give honest coverage to this matter the public deserves to be seized of relevant information. If this is not possible because of legal considerations then the honourable thing is to avoid inflammatory reports like those we have been reading in the NATION for the past week.
Two peripheral issues created by the Alexandra matter, the roles of the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and the ailing General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) need to be given more public scrutiny.
The role of the CPO has not been given a lot of airplay except by Caswell on the blog Alexandra School Impasse: A Massive Failure Of Public Service Administration. Most public opinion has followed a predictable political discourse by calling for the head of the minister of education. We can agree however that the office of MOE should have been used to exert more pressure on the parties to clean up their act. We have already discussed how incestuous relationships affect how we do business as a country and here is a classic case.
The other matter is the role of Dennis Clarke, NUPW’s general secretary reported to be on leave until May because he is recovering from haemorrhagic fever. Although not unprecedented it is unusual the NUPW would seek to represent management [Broomes] in a matter against labour [teachers]. It is even more unusual that a senior principal in the union [Clarke] currently on sick leave would seek to undermine the person [Smith] appointed to act in the position. Again if BU chatter is correct the council of the NUPW has not met to approve the decision taken by Clarke. What is going on at the NUPW anyway? Is the membership not aware of how union business is being managed?
On the sidelines looking in what is a public ignorant and starved of the facts suppose to think or say? The time has come for Barbadians to wake up and fully appreciate how they are being ‘played’ by the many interest groups which run things in Barbados.
301 responses to “The Alexandra Matter: The Role Of The CPO and NUPW”
With the growing calamity that has engulfed our educational system and Has spread far and wide to halls for whom we seek proper guidance it is on this day more than ever DR.MaRTIN LUTHER KINGS speech takes precendent and the profound actions he took to guarantee every persons civil rights as stated by him so eloquently .”LET FREEDOM RINGM
The PM does not have the moral right to settle any dispute here. Ler him go and settle his own affairs. Because he has inherited this post it should not give him the right to fix a problem when he cannot fix his own backyard . However he jumps he will be shown up. Mr Jones has abandoned his post much too early. He has not given it sufficient time. How can the PM do something which can be seen as heavy handed ? When he had a chance to do some thing on his won behalf he had paralysis . Some one should declared Stuart incompetent to deal with this situation. Thimnk on these things
Independent
Why should I have a change of heart? It is the children that I’m worried about. Let us learn a lesson from Jesus the Christ, he wasn’t wrong when they crucified him, but he willingly gave up his life to save mankend. I exort Mr Broomes not to concede defeat but willing give up his position (for a price obviously) to save a young generation, you will be my martyr.
@ David
You are hopeless.
Don’t you see the folly of that argument made by the PM about a fellow always being in trouble?
If you have a broken system, dominated by idiots and nepotism and you put an UPRIGHT leader to fix the problems, don’t you think he would ALWAYS BE IN TROUBLE.
Of course if you put an idiot in charge of anything he is also always in trouble too, so ” being in trouble” in itself is no indication of anything…
LOL Bushie always in trouble….
Of course no one expects FS to get this….
Why you think they killed Jesus?
Why you think Bushie not interested in wanna worldly systems?
But…everyone ALWAYS get exactly what they deserve….
@Bush Tea
Given what you have stated a leader who is upright as you believe must find a way from within the system to achieve. This mash up and bull cow approach is not and will work.
To True to Form:
If after Freundel’s speech about the the coup and the heads that should roll, and now this one about the Alexandra issue being a storm in a tea cup, I am holding my breath until the next two months before Freundel gets around to fixing the Alexandra issue. By doing what he did at St. Lucy Church, I hope he knows what he has constrained himself to do. This posture could cost him politically.
Lemuel; The St Lucy Church posture could cost him big time politically, especially now that 22 of the other teachers have demonstrably taken sides with Jeff Broomes.
FS’s posture that could be interpreted as coming down on the side of one of the combatants before seriously studying the issues (It seems to me that he implied this himself in the off the cuff version of his speech yesterday, but I stand to be corrected on that one) cannot smooth the way towards an even handed resolution that would see the other side graciously, without rancour and without time wasting, allowing the other side to win.
Does anyone else see a long drawn out general strike in the offing coming out of the entrenched positions and big egos of the combatants despite or even because of the intervention of the PM?
You go David that is some heavy artillery you throw at Bushie.I know for sure he looking fuh cover
Quoting PRETTY BLUE EYES | January 16, 2012 at 12:00 AM “@RANDOM THOUGHTS… Quite frankly I am appalled that you people in your role as leaders could even think that it is such a great sin for Mr. Broomes to criticise the teacher in public.”
1. I’ve NEVER claimed to be anybody’s leader. NEVER.
3. We are not talking about sin. I leave it up to God and his agents, the pastors priests etc. to get work on the sin business
3. If I haven’t said it before I say it now that it was bad human relations practice to publicly criticize the teacher.
David | January 16, 2012 at 6:59 AM…”He suggested heads would roll if it was found out there was an attempted palace coup. He is obviously satisfied that there was not or he is not ready to inflict any action at this stage.”
David surely you don’t believe this.
You playing the Devil’s advocate right David?
The Scout | January 16, 2012 at 8:42 AM “Why should I have a change of heart? It is the children that I’m worried about. Let us learn a lesson from Jesus the Christ, he wasn’t wrong when they crucified him, but he willingly gave up his life to save mankend. I exort Mr Broomes not to concede defeat but willing give up his position (for a price obviously) to save a young generation, you will be my martyr.
Dear Scout: It pains me to have to point out to you that martyrs DO NOT TAKE MONEY FOR THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Quoting Peter Wickham in the Sunday Sun of January 15, 2012 page 11A “contrary to popular belief, schools are not managed like plantations (top down)”
And quoting Ezra Young on pages 22 and 23A of the same newspaper”The history of the Caribbean is rooted in slavery and colonialism, which bequeathed a legacy of master-servant type relationships…and one of the positives that will probably arise from this issue is that it will help highlight the importance of recruiting and choosing the best people to lead organizations. There is no gaurantee that an individual who is technically capable posesses the human relations skills that will create harmony…so we may have to pay closer attention to training people for higher office in order to minimize the conflict that will inevitably arise…People don’t go on strike capriciously; the strike weapon is the most extreme form of industrial action and research has shown that unions resort to [strikes] when all other avenues have failed…At Tansitor the situation changed dramatically when the CEO was changed, and I am saying that at Alexandra that can also be replicated.
If you haven’t read Peter and Ezra you should.
Ezra who is retured was formerly a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education.
Someone asked earlier about the role of the principal’s union. I expect that before the week is done the principal’s union will take Jeff oneside, have a few quiet words with him and get him to see reason.
I know because some of these same principals were forced to work with some very difficlt principals while they were teachers. Some of those who are now principals had to go court to get justice, and yes the courts granted justice.
The principals have not all forgotten.
They are all intelligent and and people. They will not let expediency rule.
They will privately and effectively push for justice.
@Observring
“This is recent opportunity number 2 for Stuart to truly show “real leadership” under duress. He missed the first one (11 times) , let’s see how he tackles this one.”
…..seems he miss this ONE also
….now #1 gine be in trouble if this ONE back fire..trouble brewing…(11)
Did I hear someone say….”If all fails call elections.”
“Dear Scout: It pains me to have to point out to you that martyrs DO NOT TAKE MONEY FOR THEIR MARTYRDOM.”
Random Thoughts you are too funny….RFLMAO…. LOLL….Scout you should not tell people where you went to school it would shame those who attended that institution.
“Dear Scout: It pains me to have to point out to you that martyrs DO NOT TAKE MONEY FOR THEIR MARTYRDOM.”
Random unless he is one of those people who believes that there will be 20 virgins waiting for him. LOLLLL
I have a good friend who taught at Alexandra School for one year, and during that year he received 59 memos most of which carried a notation that they were copied to the Ministry of Education, they were never sent to the Ministry. I am advised that this he is not an isolated victim in this regard. Further, I am reliably informed that the letter that was printed in the Sunday Sun, even though dated in June 2011, was only received, unsigned, in the Ministry of Education on January 6, 2012.
Dear islandgal246
I appears as though Scout is an old Colridge & Parry boy.
All I can say is that I am glad as ass a CP boy never came within 10 yards of me.
And that my children turned out to be super intelligent.
ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!lLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I got to run and do some work now.
Quoting Caswell ” I have a good friend who taught at Alexandra School for one year, and during that year he received 59 memos”
59 memos for 1 teacher.
Alexandra school has it seems 53 teachers. Is it possible then that the principal of Alexandra or any school writes 3027 memos a year?
And if principals do this may I ask when do they do real-real work?
Yes the real-real work that we the taxpayers PAY THEM WELL to do.
Once in my life I had a manager who was a real idiot. Once I came back form vacation to find out that she had attempted to negatively change my terms of work.
I went to her manager and told her either transfer me to a different manager or I can give you my resignation right now. My resignation was not accepted. Fortunate I was a member of an excellent union whose head was wiling to go to jail for her members (and indeed did go to jail for her members)
Another time the supervisor was a real idiot. I held my peace as I had a new mortgage. Fast forward 20 years and our mutual manager (nw retired) told me that she was really glad when for budget reasons the office had to cut back and she was able to cut the idiot first.
This thing began with an apology I think we can end it with an apology.Let Mr Broomes apologise for his remarks. Let Mrs Greaves apologise for her inistence in this matter before going to her union or the Ministry. Let the Ministry aplogise for its tardiness. Cool off now. Think on these things
Apologies wont solve the problem
@ true to form
We all would LOVE DAT ..but it was allowed to fester for 6 years…during that time things BREWED BIG BIG..BIGGER BIGGER…Now a Island unmovable .
Blame MOE
@Hants | January 15, 2012 at 7:40 PM |
“The PM has spoken “It shouldn’t be about the contest for manhood and womanhood between adults. A word to the wise is enough,” he stressed.”
**********************************************************************
Looks to me HANTS, like Freundel himself has joined what he describes as a “contest for manhood and womanhood.”
His machisimo talk about dealing with the matter “fearlessly” is bold talk from a man who has so far NOT dealt resolutely with anything that has come before him. Seems he is till waiting for David Thompson to come back, before he ‘CHANGE ROUND THE FURNITURE” (his words not mine)
Freundel and his ministers got me real confused man. Inniss declared on BrassTacks Sunday that his ” guhment” (that’s how he constantly pronounces the word “government”), will move with speed to solve the Alexandra issue, but on the other hand, Jones the Education minister took long long long before doing very little it seems.
Jones then hands off quickly to Freundel who snatches the batton and declares (like a bull in a china shop) that he has NOT been following the iissue, only hearing peripheral noises, yet he will solve it quickly and fearlessly! ONLY FREUNDEL!
this govt has no clue
…seems that none of us have any clue… So why would the ‘guhment’ be any different…’
Last week Jones said he would be willing to broker a solution even if it took until after Wednesday, lo, and behold he passed it over after a short while. Was Jones s-e-p-a-r-a-t-e-d from this problem and by whom? If Jones was separated so that the Bossman could look good ? Would it take a week a month or a year to come to an end? By the way Stuart said he was not following the matters in any deliberate way. If this is so how can we have a quick solution? The process has my full blessing but I doubt we will have a solution soon. Think on these things
@David
Am I missing something here or what ? Have the warring parties met at a single meeting yet? I have missed this. Think on these things
@true to form
To add to what you have asked, why has the CPO not responded to the BSTU’s request for a meeting. Has the BSTU been poorly advised?
@Caswell
“carried a notation?” was it a cc.? did it say to who in the Ministry??
@Porter and Bush Tea
Agreed. Many people in positions of power and authority don’t have a clue.
@David and true to form
The contents of that letter may indicate the delay in responding, or at least an ignorance of how to.
If as CPO, a union, who you should not be dealing with directly based on law and protocol, writes to you, demanding that you hold a meeting with them “now”, the agenda of which (set by the BSTU mind you) is for them to tell you not just to remove a sitting Principal from his position based on your demands but how to do so….. tell me, what would your response be??? Can there really be one???
And let’s add in that at the time the letter was sent to the CPO, the BSTU was following the “speech day grievance” line of argument. That changed when the term started back.
It seems that when you give a man a position he becomes a dictator and when you promote a man to the top, the staff resorting to mutiny. Old onions bags yuh smelling up de place reel baddd… I can smell yuh from far away. I agree wid yuh dat de only ting FS can do is to call an election.
I am sure there are more situations like these in the public service, perhaps this is the start of our Bajan Spring.
When the immovable meets the intractible. Something has to give.Can the PM counsel Broomes to move ? Can he cause the teachers to remove their single demand from the table? David you should be taking bets on how early a settlement can be reached. Let us settle this over a bowl of fish soup in Fisherman’s Pub. I cannot believe this is insoluable.
Think on these things
@Islandgal 246
Please don’t misquote the onion bag.
You seems to miss the jest. (it was… he should do the usual = nada)…… he will call the elections definitely like everything in this *guhment*…at the last moment.
Cheer up, I must buy you some air freshner
@true to form
“If Jones was separated so that the Bossman could look good ? Would it take a week a….”
What if Jones separated himself ?
What if PM rush in and it back fires…..(still stalemate) ?
Could the 11 be looking for ammo to aid and abet their future letter ?
What if the world came to and end?
what if…
Scout,my brother,I forgot to wish you & your family all the best for 2012.
This Alexandra issue is the most childish national issue I ever experience in Barbados by big people who call themselves adults.I totally agree with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart assessment of this issue – two adults trying to assert manhood & womanhood
Look at who is leading a bunch of so-called educated Black Barbadians – white frothy looking Patrick Frost and a mixed race mutant Mary Redman.
This is a golden opportunity for Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to act in a manner that will bring about a resolution to this nonsensical issue.If Freundel Stuart is able to bring about a speedy resolution and act in a decisive manner on this issue,I believe his image would be enhanced.Well if he does not then we all can conclude we have a lame duck ineffective person as Prime Minister of Barbados.
David & BU & Brother Scout,there will be an induction ceremony for all newly approved Barbadians who have gotten their citizenship.The ceremony will be held on Saturday 28,January 2012 at Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre formerly Sherbourne Conference Centre.
To Check it Out:
I am not sure Fruendel thought through what he was saying at the St. Lucy Church. Maybe the euphoria of seeing so many of his friend-nemies in one place went to his head or his blood sugar was a bit too high at that point in time. If the coup did not completely do him in, this one shall if he does not play his political hand very well.
I my humble opinion, the whole strategy for dealing with this issue is wrong. It has become an emotional negotiation on the single point of whether the Principal stays or not.
The Minister should say he is not going to deal with any request for the removal of Broomes on such a global basis but that he will deal with the individual issues of substance.
The real issues are each of the incidents which have happened over the years which have led to this dispute and the legal background and position of the players in relation to those.
For each incident there must be facts which support or deny the position and these have to be assessed against the roles and authorities of the teachers and Principal. As an example:
– did broomes instruct the teacher to teach the class?
– was it within his authority to do so?
– did the teacher refuse to teach the class?
– was she entitled to refuse?
– did she have any reasonable explanation as to why she did not comply?
Somewhere behind this dispute is a series of individual answers, which if they could be properly seen, would help to sole the whole sorry mess.
The BSTU would, I guess, rather not go this route as I cannot imagine that any teacher or group of teachers would have any entitlement under the terms of their employment to call for the dismissal of their superior.
@ac | January 15, 2012 at 10:46 AM |
“… a teacher dared to stand up for a good education of the chidren”
u are determine to be blinded by your own stupidity. how could she claim to have children’s education at heart yet refused to teach another set of children for an entire year? no, she wanted to dictate to mr. broomes that she was in charge, not he. protocol dictates that u obey your employers whether or not you believe them to be correct in their demands. You seek higher authority but in the meantime, you continue doing what you were paid to do. if she knows she was wrong, did she write a letter to the MOE telling them that she intended to not teach the class assigned to her until mr. broomes returned her to her regular class? did they give her written permission to do such? if the answer to both is ‘No” then she was in breach of her contract with her employee and should be reprimanded, fired or transferred. only teenagers who are short-sighted would display such pathetic behaviour such as what she has done
@Caswell Franklyn | January 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM |
“Further, I am reliably informed that the letter that was printed in the Sunday Sun, even though dated in June 2011, was only received, unsigned, in the Ministry of Education on January 6, 2012.”
could it also mean that where ever it was hidden at the MOE that it only appeared on Jan. 6? i have ween letters typed at least 4 months after the fact, back dated, then copied and the copy sent to the head department proporting to have been sent on the date stated on the letter, advising that the copy of an original that was sent on the date noted on the letter and accusing the department of loosing the original letter, when it actually never went anywhere. so it could work both ways.
i have seen correspondence ‘lost’ in filing cabinets that could cause trouble for persons, then shredded when no one was looking.
@st.george dragon
We’d only have to go back to the last meeting between the mehr and the bstu in early 2011 that “supposedly” solved their issues. What ever decisions or resolutions were made there (and the breaking of them by whoever) since then would then provide the basis for negotiations. Sadly though, the bstu cannot accept this option for they have no strong case for their demands.
The Prime Minister said he will intervened in the matter last Sunday.
It is the end of day on Monday after 9 days of this matter raging.
The question therefore: when will the PM intervened?
St George’s Dragon
The MOE has already stated that the other matters were resolved, the two individuals apologiesd to each other and shook hands, therefore it is BAR union arrangements for the BSTU to bring back up these items. The only batter at hand is the statement made at the Speech Day and your questions have to answered. In addition, the MOE has to indicate whether or not they received the letter of complaint from Mr Broome, and the answer is in the affirmative, why he didn’t get a reply. If this matter goes to court both the BSTU and the MOE is going to look stupid
Negro Man
Haven’t heard from you for a long time, just hope everything is goodwith you. Have a HEALTHY 2012 My Friend. I glad to hear from you and read your comments, I’m appalled at what I see going down, reminds me of the old colonial days, I can’t believe in this 21 century, my black people are allowing these two red people to deny our young people from their education. This is a backward step for blacks in this country. At the end of the day the whites will send their children into the “big-up” white school, the indians have their own schools and our blacks are being disadvantaged. Why can’t they see this goes way beyond a teacher/principal matter.
David
I’ve lost my respect for leroy Trotman, how many times has he or his union,negotiate while on strike? Why should he encourage another union to do such? Did he investigate the problems from both sides or just from Mary Redman. No wonder Mr Broomes turned down the offer to meet with him at the last minute. Isn’t the BWU a menber of CTUSAB? why should he be advocating that he would get CTUSAB to support him when the Gen Sect and Pres have alreay said they are NOT taking sides. His slip is not showing EVERYTHING EXPOSE. Leroy, you have disgrace trade unionism
Only people with a very low IQ would bring up RACE as an issue in this debacle. Some black people got a block pon dem shoulders and pon dem brain! Stupse…..
David
It was reported in this evening’s news, the minister of education said he would meet with the two paries, along with their representatives, and some of his cabinet ministers first and see if they can reach an agreement. failing to do this, then the P.M will be called upon to intervene. Maybe Mr Jones don’t have faith in the P.M to handle the matter, or he has been advised to deal with it on his own, maybe the Eager 11 will send a delegation headed by Sinckler to the meeting
The PM will intervene when he is ready to do so. Did’nt he indicate yesterday that he had not been keeping abreast of the situation? If so, he will probably need at least 2 weeks or so to study the relevant documents, meet with individual resource persons, meet with a wide range of interested parties, study the new documents coming out of those meetings, get his assistants to develop a brief for him, etc.. It must also be realised that the office of PM carries with it a number of urgent statutory responsibilities that he just can’t put on hold which could also delay the proposed meeting.
Yes. I think about 2 weeks would be about right with him treating the matter with utmost urgency.
Also, during that time, the combatants might have cooled down and be willing to see reason (both of them). A strategy worthy of the Roman Consul Cicero?.
David / Scout; I hadn’t heard the evening news when I wrote my last post above. Scout’s info above would, imho, significantly reduce the time frame in which the PM would be likely to meet with the parties if and when the new approach fails. Say 3 working days after the possible failure of that group to effect a resolution.
OOPs! The Roman Consul I should have referred to above should have been Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Cunctator, not Cicero. My mistake!