Following claims of being suspended from The Bahamas Union of Teachers because of their “Jungalist” actions, the two teachers who spearheaded a petition to reverse a $16 increase in union dues by the BUT held a press conference on Thursday to “clear the air” on the matter.
The women also want an apology from President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, Kingsley Black, who referred to their actions on Wednesday as “Jungalist”.
The women, Belinda Wilson, a teacher at Doris Johnson Senior High School and Ida Poitier of Albury Sayle Primary addressed the press on the steps of the Supreme Court building, flanked by their lawyers Fayne Thompson and Anthony Delaney.
No warning
Referring to herself as the “duly elected” shop steward representing the Doris Johnson Senior High School, Ms Wilson charged that neither she nor Mrs Poitier received any verbal or written communication from the union informing them that they were suspended or were facing disciplinary action.
“To date, we have received nothing, and so far, as far as we are concerned, we are members of The Bahamas Union of Teachers and we are entitled to all rights and privileges thereof,” she said.
Increase defeated
According to Ms Wilson, on May 5, the BUT embarked on a vote for a levy of $30 against each member of the union. She said all members had an opportunity to vote at a referendum and the levy was defeated. The purpose of the levy, she said, was to pay auditors for the 2001/02/03 Audit Report, pay outstanding debts of the union and to finance the 57th annual general meeting. The levy, she added, was overwhelmingly defeated by BUT members.
Ms Wilson continued that on July 5, the BUT held its annual general meeting and Family Island delegates had to pay their own airfare and hotel. She said after two and a half hours of debate for and against an increase in dues, a vote was taken. The first vote, she said, was 36 ‘No’ to 30 ‘Yes’. Two more votes were taken and the final re-vote tallied 35 ‘No’ and 39 ‘Yes’, and the dues were then increased from $20 to $36 per month.
Resistance
The D.W. Davis teacher said upon returning to the classroom following the summer recess, she informed her entire staff that dues had been increased, but members asked what could be done to decrease this amount. Ms Wilson said she then referred members to section 5B and 5C of the Constitution, which stated that upon the written application of 15 per cent of the financial members of the union, a special general meeting could be requested to tackle various matters, as long as these matters were stated.
“Based on this, a petition was drafted and to date, we would like to say that along with myself and Mrs Ida Poitier, we have 1,203 signatures that we have presented to the Secretary General [Eula Gaitor] and it has been certified by a Justice of the Peace. It has been presented to the union today and it is requesting that BUT have a special general meeting in accordance with the Constitution,” she said.
Ms Wilson said the meeting would deal with three matters. These matters, she said, include:
* Repealing the decision of the 57th annual general meeting, which calls for a removal of the $36 dues and revert it back to $20
* Increasing the dues when she and Poitier become a part of the next leadership of the BUT. Ms Wilson said they intend to ask for an increase that would be set by the body of the Union, rather than “secretly.”
* Proposing to decrease the number of executive officers to two members.
Shifting her focus to the alleged suspension, Ms. Wilson said on Oct. 25 while at D.W. Davis School, she received a letter from BUT that was signed by the president, but excluded the signature of the Secretary General.
The letter, she said, was headed “New Providence District Emergency Membership Meeting.” The letter requested her presence at the general membership meeting on Oct. 26 to “defend herself” against charges that were not clearly articulated in the letter.
Ms Wilson also produced a letter issued to her from the area vice president of the New Providence district of the Union, Byron Small. The letter, she said, verified that she was duly elected on Aug 30, 2004 as a Shop Steward.
The D.W. Davis teacher concluded that the entire “exercise” is only targeted to suppress the petition of the 1,203 financial members of the union who want to reverse the dues increase. Union heads, she said, also wanted to prevent her and Mrs Poitier from becoming the next president and secretary general of the union in 2005.
Due process
“The petition has been presented and we have also given the union a mandate with 1,203 signatories and we would like to have the meeting called within seven days. If they fail to call the meeting, then we would take further action,” she said, adding that she wants “due process” and justice and fair play to prevail.
“If due process is not followed, we will seek recourse in the Supreme Court. We are also calling on all teachers who have signed the petition to know that we are holding a meeting next week Wednesday and the place will be announced,” she said.
Asked what “further actions” would be taken if a meeting is not called within the next seven days, Ms Wilson responded: “We will be consulting with the teachers and we will be guided by the 1203 signatories.”
Ida Poitier, the Albury Sayle Primary teacher working closely with Ms Wilson, said that she was very disappointed with some of the reports emanating in the press by the BUT president. She said Mr Black is the leader of the union and she and Ms Wilson were “very upset” about some remarks made about their character.
“Both Ms Wilson and myself are women of integrity and we are very upset to be called jungalist in the press. I hope and pray that Mr Black would be man enough to apologize publicly for that statement,” she said.
Fayne Thompson, one of two lawyers representing the women warned Mr Black to withdraw his “jungalist” statement. “You must apologize to these women. It is disgraceful and in fact right now, you should resign,” he said, adding that he intends to review the options of both teachers to determine if they can in fact be suspended. “We hope that the BUT act swiftly to correct this position. That is all we have to say,” Mr Thompson said.
‘On their own’
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, BUT President, Kingsley Black said both women were “on their own” and through their campaign accused the BUT of dishonesty.
“You have invited judgment and now you must suffer the consequences. The union cannot move forward and we shall not move forward with individuals hell-bent on destroying us simply to have their own way; and the majority of members do not support this foolishness. The union is not made up of this foolishness. You would expect educated individuals to behave differently, and they actually do us a disservice by their consistent inappropriate behaviour that is nothing short of almost jungalist action. This is not the way to behave in the teaching profession,” Mr Black said.
Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
