Union disappointed with working conditions at Wilkie Cumberbatch

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is upset that its members at Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School are being asked to report for duty in a construction zone.

President Rudy Lovell deemed it an “injustice” that would not be tolerated by the union.

He was speaking to this paper outside the school gates of the Pine, St Michael institution around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday ahead of a meeting with the teachers. He was accompanied by his second vice president André Holder and executive member Tara Durant.

“We are here to meet with the staff. Essentially, we are concerned that the staff has been asked to turn up to work while construction work is still ongoing. We believe that is against the natural justice of health and safety,” he said.

Wilkie Cumberbatch was one of three schools which Minister of Education Kay McConney announced on Sunday would have a delayed opening due to ongoing remedial work.

She said the Pine, St Michael school would reopen for classes next week to allow work on the windows to be completed.

President of the BUT Rudy Lovell (centre), speaking with his second vice president André Holder (left) and executive member Tara Durant (right).

Lovell said the 30-plus teachers had complained about “stuff” and other irritants from the ongoing work on the compound, noting that he was surprised to hear that concrete was being poured while staffers were on duty.

“I will have to speak to the Ministry of Education again because I am not satisfied, the teachers are not satisfied with the process. The process could have been handled differently. We want the work to be completed on time but we don’t want to put the teachers under any harm.”

Meanwhile, Lovell said the teachers were “frustrated” as “there was nothing for them to do”. He added that they were also irritated that there was only one bathroom for males and females to access.

When the Barbados TODAY team visited the school, teachers were sitting in a corridor with books and laptops in hand.

Lovell reported that with the permission of the Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw the teachers left the school around 10:30 a.m.

He was unsure whether the teachers had to report for work on Thursday but said his union was willing to intervene again if the situation warranted it.

Efforts to reach Archer-Bradshaw for a comment were unsuccessful up to press time. (SZB)