The strike action initiated by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union and the Public Service Union, does not appear to have affected the routine operations at Schools and Government Departments across the country.
The action was intended to press a demand for a one-month salary tax-free. The Unions say this is being sought, in lieu of their not having a salary increase for the past four years.
However, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced that the Government is unable to make such a payment at this time, without adversely affecting other sectors.
NBC News was unable to reach President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union Oswald Robinson, while the President of the Public Service Union Elroy Boucher said an assessment was being made of the response to the call to strike.
When contacted, Chief Education Officer, Lou-Ann Gilchrist said the Ministry of Education was assessing the situation, but a preliminary assessment confirmed that the School System had not been disrupted by the strike.
NBC Radio visited several schools in Kingstown and contacted many others island wide by phone, and found that classes are being carried out as normal, some with a full complement of Teachers and Students, while others reported one or two Teachers missing for various reasons.
Principal of The Girl’s High School, said that her school sees industrial action differently, she said that the students come first and the school is functioning normally.
The St.Vincent Grammar School, Thomas Saunders Secondary, Preparatory School, Bequia SDA, SJC Marriaqua, and Georgetown Secondary have all stated that all classes are covered and this is just another school day.
Visits were also made to a number of Government Departments, where business was being conducted as usual.
