Demonstrators supporting the CTOS strike take part in a protest march in Marigot, Thursday morning. Photo www. Soualiga Post.
MARIGOT–The Caisse Territorial des Oeuvres Scolaires (CTOS) strike continued Thursday morning with a protest march on the streets of Marigot with CTOS and Collectivité employees.
It was another sign of no change to the status quo since the indefinite strike started on January 30. Both sides – unions and Collectivité, are digging in their heels and despite another meeting Wednesday in the Préfecture with the unions, the second one, there was no breakthrough in the negotiations.
“We were told by the Préfète (Sylvie Feucher) that we cannot hire 16 more persons, Union des Travailleurs de la Collectivité and Union General des Travailleurs de Guadeloupe (UTC-UGTG) Secretary Nicole Javois said. “President Gibbs has proposed us a date to open negotiations again, but for now, our movement is growing stronger and we are standing firm.”
A large number of demonstrators took to the streets chanting defiant songs in Creole, many wearing the “gilets jaune” vests, for the march that lasted from 9:00am to 12:00pm. It started in the centre of Marigot and went out on to Rue de Hollande towards the Agrément roundabout.
Although no roads were physically blocked the inconvenience was felt by motorists who were held up by the marchers. Gendarmes made sure that emergency vehicles could pass unimpeded.
The impact of the strike is being felt largely in the schools where parents and teachers have been expressing anger and frustration. Teachers are attempting to maintain a minimum level of service. Most school canteens are not operational as the staff to run them are on strike, as well the cleaners responsible for hygiene and cleanliness. The Collectivité has had to send in emergency cleaners.
Parents are forced to pick up their children at the lunch hour and take them home. Some classes, particularly kindergarten simply do not return to school in the afternoon.
The Central Kitchen, which normally produces 3,800 to 4,000 meals daily for the school canteens is currently producing only 1,300 meals per day.
“The strike is not having an impact on the kitchen itself, we have 22 employees, but it’s the staff in the canteens who are on strike,” said a spokesperson from the Central Kitchen. “There are only three canteens operating out of 14.”
While some parents complain about unfinished repair work in the schools, the school meal situation only adds to the frustration. Parents pay an annual fee for their child’s meals.
“I cannot pick up my son from school every day for the lunch hour and take him back because my job is too far away so I have been home-schooling him since the start of the strike,” a mother told The Daily Herald. “There are no staff to look after the children in the canteens. The situation is terrible. I’m a single mother, I can’t risk losing my job.”
She said the majority of parents are picking their children up for the lunch or asking neighbours to do it.
The unions have submitted a list of 18 grievances which they want rectified, mostly concerning employee rights based on signed protocols with the Collectivité dating back to 2010, and are demanding a reorganisation of after school activities.
The Collectivité is attempting to restore the financial situation of the CTOS which has been heavily in debt, cutting back on expenses to comply with a critical audit carried out by the Territorial Accounting Chamber and re-organising schedules to improve efficiency. The Collectivité says it has inherited the problems from previous administrations.
The main trigger for the strike has been point one on the list of grievances, the termination of 16 CTOS employee contracts which will not be renewed. These workers have been given priority at the Employment Office to find other jobs or to enrol on paid training courses.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/85236-school-children-and-parents-held-hostage-as-ctos-strike-continues
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