The unions representing the territory’s teachers announced Friday that reasons for stalled contract negotiations with the Turnbull administration aren’t what they seem.
In a release late Friday afternoon, The St. Croix and St. Thomas Federation of Teachers said reports that negotiations have been halted because key players are attending the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles are untrue. In its Friday release, AFT officials said government negotiators broke off talks early on Aug. 12, two days before the start of the convention.
Glen Smith, president of the St. Thomas AFT and Senate candidate, said that the unions had planned to remain at the negotiating table until a contract was finalized.
"The suggestion that the breakdown in negotiations had anything to do with the Democratic convention is a red herring meant to divert attention from the fact that the government has declared an impasse in negotiations," said St. Croix AFT President Cecil Benjamin.
Turnbull Administration officials couldn’t be reached for comment late Friday afternoon.
Union officials said efforts are being made to return to the bargaining table on Aug. 22.
Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds has scheduled a press conference on Monday to discuss the opening of the school year, which is set to start on Aug. 29.
Meanwhile, the unions have called general membership meetings for Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. at the Educational Complex on St. Croix and at 5:30 p.m. at the Palms Court Harbor View Hotel on St. Thomas.
