No New Strike As Teachers To Register Anger At Ballot Box

One month after about 1,500 teachers held a one-day strike, teachers have agreed to wait for pay rises, provided a new educational structure is implemented immediately.

At a meeting on Friday, the Association of Teachers Link agreed that if the structure – due to revamp promotions and benefits for teachers – is introduced, they will accept a delay to pay rises until next year.

But in an apparent veiled threat to government, they also resolved to “think about those who have violated our rights” when voting in the upcoming presidential elections.

Willing To Wait

Teachers understand funds for pay rises have not been allocated in the 2008 budget and are willing to wait until they are, said Association of Teachers Link spokesperson Abdullah Mohamed.

In a press conference Thursday, state minister for finance Rilwan Shareef had said pay rises for teachers will “definitely be in the 2009 budget.” But officials could not promise an earlier pay increase.

However, teachers are asking for the immediate implementation of the proposed pay structure because “we have lost trust,” Mohamed said.

The pay structure, outlining promotions and benefits according to teaching qualifications, has been promised by the education ministry since 2006.

Teachers had initially requested a pay rise from Rf 4,195 (US$329) per month to Rf 12,000 (US $937) with an additional Rf 2,000 (US$157) for overtime and other benefits, but in July reduced their demands to those outlined in the promised pay structure, after government pleaded a lack of funds.

In reaction to Friday’s meeting, deputy education minister Ibrahim Ismail asked, “How will they implement the structure without increasing their pay?” He recommended further discussions with the finance ministry.

No Strike

During the recent press conference, education minister Zahiya Zareer pleaded with teachers not to strike again, saying: “Our children will suffer.”

Mohamed agreed, “This is not the most appropriate time to strike. There are more appropriate times coming up to make our feelings known…[for example] the elections.”

“[When we vote], we will be thinking about those who have violated our rights… and consider those who will work to better the education system and award us benefits and pay raises,” said Mohamed. “This way we will not be causing any harm to schoolchildren.”

Ismail said, “I am not sure who violated their rights. It is certainly not the education ministry, but I cannot speak for the government.”

Agreement

Mohamed said, “[All the teachers] are travelling in the same direction. We all say the same thing, and have the same thinking.”

Despite past condemnations of July’s strike by the ministry, Ismail supported the teachers’ work thus far, saying, “I think they should fight for their rights.”

Mohamed said the Association of Teachers Link has distributed over 4,000 membership forms, gaining 2409 registered members to date. About 9,000 teachers work in the Maldives altogether.