Perspective: JTA In Turmoil … 98 Voted … 48 voted For & 40 Against … 8 votes Separate The Teachers ….
48 voted to reject and 40 to accept the 2018 wage package from government to their members.
A member of the JTA had this to say: “This is not about politics … there is not a good channel of communication. I was thinking …. I want my money now … by 2020 I may be dead …. there are 2000 members … so for 98 to make such a decision is strange.
“We are being used as guinea pigs, we are in a war, we know nothing about what’s happening”
Byron Farquharson
“Shaw has been saying a lot of things … some of what he says is not always so. We have not received anything official in writing.” According to General Secretary of the JTA, Byron Farquharson, he was speaking to Cliff Hughes on radio. Hughes asked Byron if he was saying the Finance Minister was lying? Byron did not answer.
Some teachers are upset this morning …. For example there is this voice note. “I cannot understand …. this is money I have already worked for …. I am going down to the Ministry of Education … by 2020 I may be dead … our heroes did not wait … I am not political … I want my retroactive money now.” The anger could be heard in her voice. Her name or location is not known.
A St. Thomas Primary School teacher called Vision’s Int’l Bureau Office (VIBO) and complained about her impatience with the delay and uncertainty about retroactive salary payments. “It is raw politics … me not in that.” Mita angrily uttered. (Not her real name).
Commentary
Is Byron Farquharson the General for the JTA implying that Minister Shaw is lying? This would be sad indeed! Who is disrespecting who now, Mr General Secretary,?
Words
We have to chose our words more carefully. To whom is in authority respect is due. We are free to vote for whichever party we prefer,but respect is always due to bigger heads. You should know better Mr. Byron Farquharson. Should you not?
Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.
