Lead Editor-Politics
akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt
After months without a definitive timeline for payment, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has taken its demand for the implementation of revised salaries directly to Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, seeking clarity on when teachers will receive their long-awaited adjustments.
Flanked by members of his executive and carrying a brown envelope addressed to the Minister, TTUTA President Crystal Ashe yesterday delivered a letter to staff at the Ministry of Finance’s head office at the Eric Williams Financial Complex in Port of Spain.
Speaking to Guardian Media outside the building, Ashe said teachers were promised payment as early as mid-2025.
“After signing on the dotted line, we were told by June or July 2025 we would get the money. No monies came. Then we were told January 2026. January has come and gone. We are now in February and we have not seen any sign of this new remuneration package for our membership,” Ashe said.
He said the letter requests definitive dates for both the implementation of the new salaries and the payment of outstanding arrears.
“We want dates. Don’t blow smoke in our faces anymore. We are simply asking for what was signed under the collective agreement and agreed to by all parties around the table,” he said.
The union has asked that the Minister respond within seven days. The backpay is estimated to cost the State approximately $730 million.
Days before the April 28, 2025 General Election, TTUTA accepted a five per cent salary increase for the 2020–2023 period under the former People’s National Movement administration. Although the agreement was signed in April 2025, it was not ratified by Cabinet until January 26, 2026, under the new administration. TTUTA said it understood that payments would have begun at the start of the year.
Ashe said the union has made repeated attempts to contact the Minister.
“We sent two or three emails and made phone calls. Up to Friday, the General Secretary reached out to ensure they received the correspondence. But acknowledging receipt without giving feedback leaves us in limbo,” he said.
He added that the union has never met directly with Tancoo and has previously communicated through the Chief Personnel Officer.
“This is the first time we are physically coming here to try to see if this mode of communication might work, because emails and phone calls have not,” Ashe said.
He noted growing frustration among teachers as living costs continue to rise.
“They’re disappointed and disgruntled. Some have significant financial commitments. NIS contributions increased from January 1, so they’re taking home less. Our brothers and sisters in Tobago are also facing additional hardship with rising transportation costs,” he said.
While TTUTA said it will consider further options if no response is received within seven days, Ashe made it clear that the union is not calling for teachers to stay away from classes.
“We care about the children and we are mindful of the laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. We are not going to put our membership in harm’s way,” he said.
On January 27, schools recorded an absenteeism rate of approximately 63 per cent, though TTUTA said it was unaware of any coordinated action.
However, Ashe acknowledged that financial strain could affect attendance.
“If teachers cannot afford to commute to work, that is a real possibility. Everything is going up — groceries, transportation — and nothing is going down,” he said.
He also called on the Prime Minister to intervene, citing workers’ rights as a key pillar of her campaign.
Guardian Media yesterday contacted Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, who said he had not yet seen TTUTA’s letter and declined further comment.
When asked to clarify the status of payments, given that the Ministry of Education had indicated in January that Cabinet approved the new salaries, Tancoo responded: “No further comment at this time.”
