Hi BAFBFP,
You are being “mischievous”, but the justice system in Barbados is the only one we have. There is a misconception that because you go to Court or have a reasonable case you will win, the chances are you will lose. . . that must always be factored in.

The teachers had an opportunity for a meeting with the Minister, they had an audience with the Prime Minister of Barbados, then there was the COI. After all that they are in a worse position now than when they first went on strike. They have always demanded:
Do you recall:” I am not backing down” ..”He must be separated from Alexandra School”

They over-played their hand. In industrial disputes unless you can bring the country to a halt – which they cannot – you must appear to be “reasonable” they have failed in that department.

I am sure many of them regret what has now happened…there is nothing worse than a defeated army in retreat.

David
The Ministry of Education needs restructuring to effectively manage the educational system.
There are 71 public primary schools, 4 nursery schools, 1 infant school, 2 special schools and 5 units which cater for students with special needs.
There are 22 secondary schools with twenty coeducational and two single sex.

I would therefore agree with you that they should be two deputy Chief education officers. There are too many things going on daily in schools that require urgent attention.

I am reliably informed that there is only one Science Educational Officer for both primary and secondary schools.

the mou which mary redman speaks about states in the first paragraph” this memorandum which is presented in two parts is to be read in its historical context. it represents what all parties concerned understand to be conditions of service as favourable as or no less favourable than those enjoyed by teachers in the older secondary schools prior to the implementation of the 1981 education act. it will be used in these circumstances as a point of reference by the parties involved. This MOU will apply to all teachers who were in service or holding indefinite acting appointments in cvacant posts on the date of the eneactment. of the education Act 1981-25 as determined by lists to be agree and approved., but will not apply to thses teachers who wer appointed or promoted after the enactment of the said act”

If any of the two teachers miss redman speaks about has been promoted since the act came into place. neither one has a leg to stand on.

.

@Clone

there are two deputy chief education officers. I guess u mean two for school supervision and management.

Hi BAFBFP,
The “philosophy” of not backing down might have been shared by both sides – on that I do not disagree – but the difference is it was said in public by one side.

The Courts on a daily basis are full of people, some professional who are legally represented by fellow professionals on both sides, some give bad advise some not so, like all professionals some are better than others. . . that is life.

With regard to the Minister of Education, the Chief Education Officer and heads of the Civil Services that is for another day when “evidence” – if there is any – can be brought against them.

There is merit in what you say but those issues though important can be addressed later. We must not lose sight of the ball now.
ps: I must fly.

I am the view that the HT can ask teachers to teach other subjects generally as long it it considered that it is within the teachers capabilities.

I dont know who is advising ms. redman, and i think she does not even understand the terms of mou. I am told that the two teachers would have had promotions since the mou and they can be transferred. ms. redman is advising those persons wrong and would cause them to lose their jobss. There can be no industrial dispute concerning the transfers, the next thing for her to do what minister jones suggested go to the courts.

Ac

the ball is not back in the pm’s court. I disagree with you. The Pm has no authority in the matter, the agent of the GG, the PSC has advised the GG on the matter and the GG has agreed to the transfers. If the union want to challenge them go to court as simple as that.

@david
Neutral and anti are not the same thing! Lol

And you back with this other subject thing again? I thought we done hash that out yesterday. Look, if bush lawyer Caswell can’t find a law, rule or regulation to refute the FACT that a head can assign you to a subject other than what you first taught when appointed (within department and ability) then it must be TRUE! And if he gotta find excuses to not engage in further debate on it then it must be PATENTLY TRUE!! Uh lie?

@TTP
Top shelf shot!!!! I recognised that today myself after some fine tooth combing through a garbage can. The elephant in the room must now question if these 3 really “cannot” be transferred!!!

I agree with all that a Ministry restructuring is needed. The COI recommended as much.

The level of advice the BSTU is getting is worrying. Actually it’s almost frightening. I said so last January and I have to say it again.

@ac
Freundel ain’t doing a ping pang ping pang with this anymore. All the phases done.

In the words of the honourable Minister…..Go and do de people wuk! File your protest or challenge in the meantime!.

Just Observing

@Clone

but remember that there is also a senior education officer, as well as education officers for the schoo lsupervision and managment section, similary there is a deupty for I think curriculum and i cant remeber the other erea, an this aread is aslo served by a senior education officer as well as education officers. I dont think the issue is lack of resources. We do not need timid decision makers.

The PM might not want to do a PINg or Pang! but he did stick his nose now parents are wondering what he is gonna do before an avalanche comes a rolling down the mountain cover in the color red. for say whatever one thinks she does not wear red for nothing and so far she has succeeded in having two or treat transfers given preference , maybe people might not like her hard nose approach but the word of the day is “precedent” and mary guns are pointed in that direction.

Observing;
After watching the CBC news on the current situation. Things are becoming clearer. The PM is adamant that his early handling of the situation was flawless. He has washed his hands clean of any further action re. AX and has apportioned any putative blame on the current situation to the Educational system and the degreed persons it has produced in his ministries and elsewhere. He insists that he has had nothing at all to do with the flawed implementation of the transfers, and indeed, if there are any faults, UWI is to blame. This is even better than IslandGal had predicted on his likely response.

The Minister of Education has fingered the PSC as the agency responsible for the transfers. His Ministry was not involved, it seems. In addition Mr Jones made a very direct attack on Mary Redman’s “oneupwomanship” which might not be taken lightly.

No one could expects the PSC or the CPO to respond further. They are all creatures of the PM.

Bush tea; There is no hope that the PM will take your advice and detailed prescription for solving this issue. He has washed his hands clean of any further involvement in it and it would seem he had done so prior to any activity related to the implementation of the transfers.

So everything is now hunky-dory. There is no problem. If there is a minor hitch the heavily educated folks at MOE, PSC and CPO will handle it. Any dissenting teachers can take their cases to the Law Courts where they will get their hearing but those hearings are not likely to be to their benefit.

But what about the other side. BSTU appears to be also adamant. They do not appear to be concentrating on basing the success of their case on the Courts in Barbados but instead on the claim that Government, through the agencies of the MOE and PSC, is engaging in the dread activity of UNION BUSTING. To that end they are actively and energetically seeking solidarity from local and regional Trade Unions and will doubtless get that support.

Union Busting is considered by Unions worldwide as the ultimate sin so the BSTU is likely to get significant support from the external Unions from which their president has sought solidarity and we know that Mary Redman is unlikely to back down from escalating the action. But will the AX teachers she depends on stay firm in the face of not so veiled threats to their livelihoods from the Government and the advice to accept the transfers given to BUT members by their Union.

All in all, A good Scene 2. It looks like Act 2 on Monday and Tuesday might be action packed if Mary can get the solidarity she has asked for. Or it might fizzle out. I have to get some more peanuts soon for Monday as the action then promises to be entrancing.

Which side will blink first? Will we see AX closing down for 1 week to get things straightened out there and dampening the effect of any BSTU action in the process? The Government Ministers involved in the debacle seems to have closed ranks. The several unanswered questions about the implementation of the flawed transfers will remain so.

The Government troops seem to be firmly behind Freundel. No hint of an eager 11 action in the offing as seems eminently sensible given the proximity of the election.

I think I read somewhere that Ms Redman will be outlining further plans and actions tomorrow. I’ll have to get an uncomfortable seat in the Pits for the rest of the show as I can’t afford to doze off during any of the action.

AC, The PM will not address us soon on this matter. He thinks there is no need to. He might be right. But then he might also be totally wrong.

Is it possible for someone to email BU a copy of a contract? It can be redacted of course.

Checkit-Out

HA HA HA HA …. MURDA … U see the makings of a block buster here too …. Look I got friends in Hollywood. U want me call them ..? HA HA HA … Uhum

well his words to such effect was his words stating in conclusion that the proper authorities would have to figure this quadmire out,in the meantime this debacle would continue outside with the help of divine intervention. PM fingers are being pointed at you.

Enuff;
Hurricane?
Oh shoots! and the batteries in my small photovoltaic system seem to be on their last gasp and I can’t afford to replace them. Wuhloss!!

I honestly think the lawyers on this blog are overestimating the likely impact of the legal aspect of this epic struggle as I suspect the majority of Union fights are won without any discernible legal underpinning re. the rights or wrongs of an employer’s action. Wunnah don see dat Broomes’ lawyers said last week that they will let the Union do their thing first and then do their own thing, if necessary?

What Mary Redman needs a 100% legally fireproof case to win her case fought essentially as a Union dispute, what?

She has an election campaign coming up that might throw out the incumbents propelled by merely the instability of the country in a poor IR climate; She has 40 or more hopping mad teachers and some very disgruntled children and some enraged parents at HC, Combermere, etc., most of whom might support her. She has significant Union support here; She will have significant support from some Unions overseas who will bring the situation to the notice of the International community (the case being; the Barbadoes government has transferred 8/9ths of the senior staff and 3/5ths of the teachers of the alexandra school in an attempt to bust the teachers Union there. We can’t allow them to do that)

If the concerted union action promised goes on for 1 week or more we may see a different reaction from the Politicos. The Governing party can’t afford a poor IR climate at this time.

What legal correctness what? Union busting and the other pincer type actions Mary Redman appears to be putting in place should do just well.

Caswell; Re. your 9.35 pm post; Thanks for the clarification.
OK so the PSC is not officially a creature of the PM. But look at its composition. Should anyone have any fears re. decision making that might pit the individual against critical partisan Government policy especially since in a former life one of its members chose a DLP government’s policy against that of his employer?

Overheard a man saying come the new term in a few days time its going to be CP&P in the education system. I asked him how is Coleridge and Parry involved in this. Not C&P,he said but Cat Piss & Pepper.

Here is Jeff’s column:

Musings: Between rocks and hard places

1/6/2013

By Jeff Cumberbatch

“Is there no way”, said I, “of escaping Charybdis and at the same time keeping Scylla off when she is trying to harm my men?” The Odyssey – Homer

When, last week, I suggested idiomatically and partly in jest, that there would be “film at eleven”, I did so in the expectation of some fallout from the then rumoured mass transfers in the Barbados secondary school system arising out of the so-called Alexandra School affair and the pertinent Waterman Commission of Inquiry. I was referring at that time especially to the involuntary transfer to Parkinson Secondary School of the former principal of Alexandra’s, Mr. Jeff Broomes, and to the likely reaction of his legal counsel to this development.

As matters unrolled during the past week, the “film” has still not yet begun, at least up to the time of writing this, but the continuing previews have managed to hold the popular interest captive, a signal achievement in a context where the announcement of a general elections date is imminent. Of course, there are those who will attempt to politicise the issue in partisan terms, in spite of the reality that the governing administration’s hands are legally tied, but that is par for the course in Barbados. Only ‘bout hey!

http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=columnists&NewsID=28569

@ Jeff Cumberbatch (extract above)
snip
…. “of a general elections date is imminent. Of course, there are those who will attempt to politicise the issue in partisan terms, in spite of the reality that the governing administration’s hands are legally tied, but that is par for the course in Barbados. Only ‘bout hey!”

****************
Pray… tell us how we can separate the two ? Who did all the “phasing”…”.Man you all need to play catchup”…..remember? If you chop the fire wood and further introduced the spontaneous combustion with glorified matches….you must also take on the role of Fire Chief. FDNY….
Watermans or not !…looka muh crosses

Simon
“And why do black men prefer women with straightened hair?”

My preference is shaved … thank you very much … Uhum

My recent investigations reveal that the principal of the lodge school has written the ministy of education on mary redman not teaching the people children and as a consequence the school has hired two part-time teachers to cover for her, i am told these teachers are at school every day to cover for this lady’s intransicence. This has been going on for five years and I am wonddering how much it is costing the taxpayer’s to allow her to use the excuse every day that she is going on union business. The BSTU has a secretariat, like the nupw or but to deal with those matters.

It was reported that after the coi report that the lady said her next target was the lodge school, i guess she has to now put that on hold,lol.

@Simple Simon on four sex genders, there is now a 5th option, the Androgynos male. google for further clarification. Most black males preferring to see black females with straightened hair (that is so destructive to female health) comes from the same self-loathing displayed by both sexes and desire to look like someone else, hence the wigs, bleaching creams, fake this, fake that…………………………………………………and on and on.

correction The minister of Education and the MOE have failed the people of Barbados.

@ David
There can be no necessity for me to make any ” admission ” of the fact of my friendship / relationship with Freundel J . Stuart . That well known relationship has been built on the many common interests we share and the affection and respect which we have had for each other over a very extended period . That notwithstanding , I am unable / unwilling to take any credit for accompanying Prime Minister Stuart on any trip to Canada as stated ; THAT TRIP NEVER TOOK PLACE . The only trip on which I accompanied Freundel J Stuart out of Barbados was a trip to the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty’s Privy Council to represent a client some years ago. I hope you would not find it too difficult to retract the misinformation posted above .

Look I just want to say this about that exhibition of insensitivity. There was a time when Barbados produced something that the rest of the world was prepared to buy. That is not so today. The legacy of those who shed blood and sweat to survive in those most difficult of times deserves a hell of a lot better than an asinine side bar from one who merely serves the interests of hidden elite, with no possibility of a tangible, measurable result.