Many teachers on St. Croix made their feelings known Monday about a court order mandating their return to school: they stayed away.
About a dozen noisy members of the St. Croix American Federation of Teachers took up the same spots outside Central High School they have manned through the union’s three-week strike. On the campus, about 66 of the school’s 111 teachers were absent.
The situation was similar at several other schools around the island.
Despite the overall displeasure with the judge’s decision, more AFT members are expected to return to work on Wednesday, after Tuesday’s general election.
St. Croix AFT President Tyrone Molyneaux said the union had no role in Monday's events. On Friday, Territorial Court Judge Brenda Hollar had issued a preliminary injunction ordering teachers, para-professionals and support staff back to work.
"We are following the judge’s order," Molyneaux said. "I have no knowledge of teachers not showing up for work."
Hollar had ruled that teachers had to abide by the AFT's collective bargaining agreement, which prohibits strikes. The V.I. Code does allow teachers to carry out job actions, but only under certain conditions and if there is not a contract in place.
Molyneaux said he thought many of the teachers could be ill. "Maybe they’re sick . . . of how they’re being treated," he said.
Molyneaux also declared he did not support an effort to place him in the Senate through a write-in vote on Tuesday.
"I am not a write-in candidate," he said. "I have no desire . . . of being a senator."
