PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The Association of Teachers in Technical Education (BLTO) says members voted on Sunday night to end their industrial dispute and will return to classes on Wednesday.
“Due to the fact that we also have to take our students into account, we do not want to have a lost school year, and most schools have already been paid out, it has been decided to relax the actions,” BLTO chairman René Bilkerdijk and vice-chairman Jenifer Ballo said in a letter to the members.
According to BLTO, as of Wednesday, members will resume their work where the authorities have already informed schools that their outstanding funds will be made available at the end of April.
However, BLTO said that schools where members have not been paid through no fault of their own will continue work until 12:00 noon (local time).
The BLTO had asked the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture to ensure its members receive their credits and overtime payments by the end of May.
It has also been calling on the authorities to ensure that bonuses, incentive allowances, examination fees, funds for working during the holidays, and travel time allowances are paid out this school year.
In addition, the union had been calling for permanent appointments for teachers this school year.
The BLTO said it would not be satisfied with any shifting of the blame going forward.
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