In any democratic country, society or trade union organisation, a vote is precious.
It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool. Bearing this in mind, we prepared for the Fiji Teachers Union general election which was scheduled on Friday and Saturday – April 16-17.
When the Fijian Elections Office announced the result the outcome was clear. Members had spoken and the team which was elected to serve the membership from 2019-2021 received massive support, and recorded a landslide re-election victory. The membership had seen the enormous amount of work put in by the general secretary and his team in taking FTU to greater heights.
This year’s FTU general election attracted a considerable amount of interest within the rank and file. The team to contest the FTU election had more than adequate knowledge, enthusiasm, resolve, experience, skill, courage, passion, energy, commitment and vigour to steer the union. We were confident of winning because the team had delivered during our term, and we knew that the members were appreciative of that. Hence, the team was humbled by the overwhelming support received from the members.
Prior to this election, the union had called upon members to jealously guard the union’s independence, and to exercise their democratic right to ensure that FTU remained independent. A lot had been achieved despite the circumstances. Let me, as the general secretary, reflect on some of these achievements.
What we achieved
In 2014, the entry point salary for diploma holders had been reduced to the salary for certificate level teachers.
This was negotiated upon for reinstatement in June 2017 with six months back-pay. About 1500 teachers benefitted.
In 2015, the entry point salary for all teachers had been reduced to $12,000 by then Education Ministry. This was reinstated after 12 months via union intervention which also resulted in the payment of the difference. Approximately 1300 teachers benefitted.
Graduates were paid the difference between $12,000 and $23,000 while those with diplomas were paid the difference between $12,000 and $16,000. In 2016, FTU intervened to disband the Education Ministry’s Disciplinary Services Board.
The Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal was established for a fair hearing. Another area that the union has continuously been addressing is the duty hours of teachers. The ministry agreed that teachers’ official duty hours would be from 8am to 3.30pm, and a circular to that effect was issued in December 2017.
FTU challenged the “student free day” policy in the High Court. It was fi nally removed. Teachers who had Diploma in Tertiary Teaching (DTT) qualifications were informed by the ministry in September 2018. That this qualification was going to be derecognised.
This was challenged by the union, and the ministry agreed to re-recognise the DTT in February 2020. The ministry’s much-hyped job evaluation exercise had so much promise, but failed upon implementation as there were numerous anomalies.
The union successfully negotiated for upgrade of salary for head of department ED 5C, assistant head teacher ED 5D and education offi cer positions. The union worked consistently to impress upon the Education Ministry to review the policies imposed in recent years. The ministry’s transfer policy is more teacher-friendly now, while the new and fairer open post processing system criteria recognises relevant experience in leadership positions.
The job test and interview have been removed.
In addition, the promotion matrix prepared by the unions at the Education Minister’s request was implemented for primary heads of school posts. This was a milestone achievement for the union. The same will apply to secondary schools. The acting policy is being reviewed to conform to the promotion criteria and expressions of interest open up now every six months. The union was disappointed to note that only 167 out of 13,500 teachers were paid the 2017-2018 MyAPA increment, and it disputed this denial of increment to 99 per cent of its members. The union is pursuing this matter, plus the increments for subsequent years.
As far as the MyAPA successor is concerned, the draft was discussed with the ministry’s HR team, and the assessment period is now reverted to the normal school year. The permanent secretary has assured the union that the system will be reviewed during the year in consultation with the unions. With regard to individual grievances, the union addressed cases of unfair dismissal through the dispute mechanism, and numerous rulings were made in FTU’s favour.
Members were reinstated with full benefi ts backdated, and the union was awarded legal costs. In cases of denial of promotion, tribunal rulings were made in members’ favour. The non- renewal of contract cases are before the Employment Court. Members who were demoted received rulings in their favour, and were reinstated to their substantive posts. The union has continued to assist members with transfers on numerous occasions.
FTU activities
Apart from these industrial relations issues, members’ health, social security and welfare are at the heart of the union.
The union has a reliable in-house medical insurance scheme which has saved many lives giving, hope and bringing happiness to families. A unique FTU family scheme, which was incepted in 2011, provides full coverage of hospitalisation needs locally and also overseas evacuation.
The services provided by the union have increased and improved annually, and the coverage age has been extended to the age of 70. Capacity building is at the heart of FTU. Regular workshops are organised for branch leaders. Cluster meetings and school visits are organised to educate members on union services. Quarterly national executive meetings are attended by all branch representatives, and a comprehensive activities report is presented for dissemination at branch level.
The union celebrates all union calendared events including Labour Day, World Teachers Day and International Women’s Day. FTU headquarters fully funds the western, southern and northern zonal sports tournaments. Women participation in the union has increased.
Communication is an integral part of the union, and quarterly comprehensive newsletters are disseminated to membership after every national executive meeting. The national women’s wing is provided with funding to conduct capacity building activities at all levels. The annual activities report is published as well. The union has a fully-fl edged website and Facebook page with all relevant union literature. The union publishes regular press releases on all key industrial relations matters.
FTU has sound financial management policies and practices. Investments have been made after thorough feasibility, and these investments are fetching good returns. Organising and membership drives continue to be the focus as there is continuous recruitment of new members.
Today, FTU is the largest trade union in Fiji as a result of the confidence of the membership in the current executives. FTU’s service does not only extend to its membership. It goes beyond that. The school rehabilitation fund, which was established in the wake of STC Winston in 2016, continues to assist families in distress because of the natural calamities as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding for provision of lunch and supply of stationery kits were made to affected children in the amount of approximately $50,000 after the COVID-19 crisis and STC Yasa and Ana.
The future
The future looks bright with the massive support received from members in the general election. The union will work with the Education Ministry to pursue issues affecting our members. We have serious pending matters that will be addressed straight away. The disciplinary guideline now in place gives the permanent secretary powers to terminate employment without referring the matter to the Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal.
The union’s stand is that members have the right to a fair representation and hearing. The union will also address all the anomalies in the job evaluation exercise that was carried out in 2017. Moreover, members have not received their annual increment for the past three years.
More than 4000 teachers are not part of any union, and we will address the membership drive programs more seriously. FTU is adamant that there should be a policy on the rights of teachers. At present, teachers are unfairly constrained in trying to execute their duties because any attempt to bring order in the classroom could bring them under scrutiny.
It is difficult for teachers to handle indiscipline in schools because teachers are not feeling secure or safe, especially with the rise in indiscipline cases in schools. With the emphasis, unfortunately, on the rights of a child, there are no rights for teachers. Hence, a teacher protection policy will safeguard our teachers.
Other issues that will continue to be addressed include
abolition of contractual appointments;
restoration of tenure for job security;
reinstatement of executive teacher and counselor positions in schools;
addressing teacher shortages and improving student-teacher ratios;
to get early childhood teachers to be put on an annual salary equivalent to primary school teachers;
provision of an adequate budget for inservice training;
ensuring transfer and travel allowances are paid in all transfer cases including promotion;
reinstatement of the Joint Consultative Committee, Central Staff Board and Public Service Appeals Board;
reinstatement of a proper and inclusive education forum;
reinstatement of FNPF contribution to 18 per cent;
reinstatement of location allowance; and
review of boarding allowance. The union will continue to pursue the case of the Technical College of Fiji where our members’ jobs were unfairly terminated.
The formation of a youth wing is high on the agenda, and the youth executives will be part of decision-making.
The union will continue to engage and communicate with the Education Ministry to negotiate and discuss matters of concern such as bullying in schools as well as propose initiatives to improve the quality of education at all levels.
FTU is on record for engaging with the ministry to negotiate and discuss all collective and individual concerns of the members in a normal employer and employee relationship. It is not unusual that we agree to disagree on some matters; hence, the option to seek resolution through the industrial relations machinery is always open.
Members will note that we have resolved numerous cases through this means. Our relationship with the ministry remains professional and cordial, while we maintain our independence as a representative of employees. This is a universal practice by all union leaders worth their salt.
The votes cast in favour of the team have made a bold statement – our members want a union which is not a “yellow union”.
I accord my sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to the branch executives and members for their faith in the team which is ready to deliver yet again.
I also thank those who contested this year’s election, as they put us to the test. Our victory is a clear sign that FTU is in safe hands.
Agni Deo Singh is general secretary of the Fiji Teachers’ Union. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of this newspaper.
