Teachers in St Vincent and the Grenadines, vaccinated and unvaccinated, have been ordered to strike for several days this week in a show of solidarity against mandatory vaccination.
The SVG Teachers’ Union on December 6, teachers will continue to go to physical and online classes however on Tuesday and Wednesday, they have been asked to stay away from all face to face and online classes, in other words, strike.
After the two days of strike, the Union says teachers will continue with all normal work on Thursday, December 9.
Then on Friday, December 10, pickets have been planned for Kingstown, Union Island, Canouan, and Bequia from 9:30 am.
The Union assures all COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced at the picket lines.
The SVGTU has advised all of its unvaccinated members to continue to report to work and to keep photographic records as evidence of their presence. These members have been told that if they are issued any formal communication concerning their employment status, to submit a copy to the Union’s office.
The SVGTU is urging parents to keep their children at home on Tuesday and Wednesday and to join in solidarity with the Union on the picket line on Friday.
Educators in St Vincent and the Grenadines have been at loggerheads with the government over the vaccination requirement to work. Several teachers have since engaged in ‘sit outs’ as a show of solidarity with their unvaccinated colleagues.
On November 19, a scheduled list of Central government employees and some in State entities were required to take the vaccine as a standard or qualification to work.
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves had indicated to those teachers who chose to “sit in” their staffrooms as opposed to teaching in the classroom, that if need be the Education Ministry could be directed to hire more teachers and even rehire retirees.