Teachers paying high price for strike

The decision by the High Court to quash the 50-60 per cent pay rise awarded to teachers by the Industrial Court only adds misery to the teachers.

The ruling should not be a surprise since the teachers, through their unions, had read mischief in the five-judge bench mandated to handle the matter. They said the judges’ independence in making a just ruling was in doubt, claiming the executive was poised to influence the outcome.

The President’s infamous pronouncement of “Can’t pay, won’t pay” and his intention to firmly deal with the teachers’ issue once and for all spelt doom to their quest. The Government seemed to have flexed its muscles and used all avenues available to stop the increment.

Throughout their struggle, teachers had been abandoned by the Executive, legislators and it now seems, their only hope - the corridors of justice - have also joined the fray. The rule of law and the justice system are slowly and steadily dying.

Despite the court’s order to have them paid their September salary as part of the return-to-work formula, impunity has prevailed and in turn teachers are only receiving a punishment. The pain and anguish they had to undergo by missing the said salary is anyone’s guess.

The unfortunate incidents of teachers losing their lives, arising from the biting financial crisis, or while trying to make ends meet, are still fresh in our minds, though they seem to perturb the least, any Government official. Their dependants have felt the heat.

To add insult to injury, the Government has dealt a blow to the teachers’ unions by refusing to remit their dues for three months now, all in an effort to cripple their operations. Unions that have over the years gallantly fought for teachers’ rights and interests are now paying the price for calling on their members to strike.

After all, a P1 teacher in job group G, must not earn the same as his/her counterpart in the public service. For such is the price to pay for picketing.