#BTSpeakingOut – Teachers’ union becoming tiring

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by E. A Brooks

Permit me this short missive with respect to teachers’ union representatives bellyaching all the time about going to school to teach and the notion that they will be exposed to COVID-19 if they go to school. I am getting the impression that teachers are ultra-special and should therefore be allowed to remain at home while the rest of Barbadian workers, who are not so special, should have no issue going to work in person.

After all, not all work can be done remotely. But the union representing the teachers seems to be giving the impression that the only time teachers leave home is to go to school; that the only way they are exposed to COVID-19 is when they go to school. This is unbelievable crap coming from people who are supposed to have benefited from tertiary education. If you do not want to teach face-to-face, then resign! There are people out there who can replace you.

I see Prime Minister Mia Mottley up and down this country working her tail off trying to stabilise this nation and rectify the problems we face and I do not hear her complaining about the dangers of being exposed to COVID-19.  She gets on with the job while taking all the necessary safety measures. And she comes into contact with a wider range of people than the teachers. Perhaps they should take a leaf out of her book and get on with their bloody jobs.

Nurses working, police working, postmen, doctors, lawyers, sanitation workers, street vendors, carpenters, hustlers, prostitutes . . . and they are not complaining about doing it face to face. Man look, shut up and teach [in person].