All Anglophone Teachers Trade Unions: Call For Resumption Of Classes

Below is a press release following the meeting held in  Bamenda on February 3, 2017

“Meeting today in Bamenda, this 3 Day of February 2017, the All Anglophone Teacher Trade Unions represented by SYNES Buea Chapter, CATTU, TAC, PEATTU, CEWOTU and BATTUC critically reviewed the ongoing strike which they initiated on November 21, 2016, in a bid to cause government to address the grievances that plague the English sub system of education. In a true spirit of trade unionism and dialogue, the union leaders present re-examined the grievances presented to government, re-evaluated the deliberations and proposals of the Inter-ministerial Ad Hoc Committee, the populist perspective that the strike finally assumed and government’s crackdown, the arrest and pursuit of some co-leaders as well as the climate of tension, insecurity, unease and uncertainty that reigns in the Anglophone community amongst other issues. In order to chart a way forward, the union leaders
-Considering that government fulfilled the pre-conditions put forward by the unions for dialogue to be engaged;
-Mindful of the fact that eleven (11) core issues were presented to government as motifs for the strike action;
-Observing that work in the Inter-Ministerial Ad Hoc Committee ended up proposing solutions to nineteen (19) core issues  and six (6) others in the form of an appeal;
-Considering the positions of and the immense sacrifices made by the denominational and lay private sectors;
.-Cognisant of the equally huge sacrifices made by teachers, parents, students, economic operators and the general public;
-Conscious of the  fact that education strike lost focus  because circumstances beyond control  moved it from the intellectual level to the populist plane on the streets, with civil society and the community taking over control;
-Considering the losses of life that were provoked  (for which we offer sincere, heartfelt condolences), especially attributable to the fact that too many leaders were giving orders and counter-orders and so strike adherents  tended to misconstrue passive resistance  with street confrontations;
-Mindful of the fact that some co-signatories of the 21/11/2016 strike call, deemed by government to have acted “ultra vires” by their other affiliations, were either arrested or declared wanted;
The trade union leaders expressed indignation at
-The heavy military presence in the two Anglophone regions that has created an environment of insecurity, suspicion, uncertainty, violence, defiance and crime;
-The arrests and intimidation orchestrated by government, which have gone a very long way to complicate efforts at seeking a way forward;
-The derailment of the strike from purely professional concerns to other issues not directly related to education;
-The aggravation of the strike because of unnecessary delays, misinformation, misjudgement, anger, lapses and haste on the part of all parties;
The union leaders nevertheless note with satisfaction
-The quality of work done on terms of reference and deadlines by the Ad Hoc Committee members, evident in the nine-page resolutions and recommendations which are available for all to see;
-The steadfastness and commitment of the union leaders and teachers to the education cause;
-The adherence of all other education stakeholders and the public to the strike call;
-The decree by the President of the Republic and Head of State creating the commission on bilingualism and multiculturalism, which hopefully should address issues of co-existence in our fatherland.
The trade union leaders finally appeal to/for
-Teachers to stand for one another and stay focused;
-The government to exercise restraint in all efforts at resolving crises;
-The government to grant amnesty and show clemency to those arrested in order to heal the land so that responsible behavior, harmony, cohesion and trust may be restored in our communities;
- The government to continue promoting frank and sincere social dialogue for grievances to be addressed whenever they are manifest;
- The government to immediately embark on implementing the short, middle and long term gains so that the resolution and recommendations can become reality.
In view of all the above, the All Anglophone Teacher Trade Unions, in unanimity, elect this 03rd February 2017 to suspend the strike which they initiated on November 21st, 2016 to address educational grievances. As a consequence of this decision,...