The SVG Teachers’ Union is expressing concern over reports that teachers who are unvaccinated will be seeing empty bank accounts in December. Teachers had up to December 3 to get vaccinated to be in line with the government’s vaccine policy with respect to their jobs.
Union President Oswald Robinson says if teachers have no money or salaries in December, it will affect their ability to send their children to school in the New Year as well as their ability to take care of their families.
Robinson in a message to banks that have reportedly been refusing unvaccinated teachers loans, says teachers will be asked to withdraw their membership from the bank if they continue this action. In addition, the SVG Teachers’ Union president says if businesses on a whole are forcing others to be vaccinated, the union will encourage the masses not to patronise that business.
Robinson says the call for teachers to engage in two days of strike action has been increasing. He says on Tuesday over 50 per cent of schools responded and those numbers increased today as well.
The Union is awaiting a response from the Commissioner of Police in terms of permission to use amplified sound for Friday’s picket but has not asked for permission to picket since it is the Union’s right under the Trade Union Act.
Robinson says no attempt should be made to stop their picket and adds if they want the picket stopped ‘then get rid of that wicked bill.’
The Union leader says to date no unvaccinated government teacher has received any dismissal letter, however, the union is standing by for legal action.