TTUTA UPDATES

From the desk of the GENERAL SECRETARY

VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 [email protected] FEBRUARY 16, 2021

GREETINGS COMRADES What’s Inside…….

• Greetings
Welcome to our monthly news-
letter! You will find that it is • Update on Negotiations

filled with information related • Proposals (2017-2020)

to your rights and responsibili-
• Town Hall Meetings
ties as members of the Teach-
• Extended Sick Leave
ing Service as well as other rel-
evant updates. We invite your • Incremental Point
feedback as we strive to pro- • When a Teacher Dies in
vide better service to the mem- Service

bership! • Professional Advance-

ment Workshops
Sincerely,
• Committee on Gender

Kady Beckles Issues Activities

GENERAL SECRETARY

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

 Industrial Relations Corner

Update on Negotiations the last year of our agreement

has to be aged to October 1st
The work at the level of the sub- 2016.
committee (CPO/TTUTA) con-
tinues. The Chief Personnel Of- This process requires that the
average yearly wage increase in
ficer, Commander Daryl Dindial
agreed for the work of the sub- Trinidad and Tobago be calcu-
lated using the monthly salary
committees to continue not
agreements from as many un-
withstanding the fact that he
ionized organizations as possi-
had not received instructions
ble. That average yearly increase
from the Minister of Finance,
is then applied to the market
Mr. Colm Imbert, to negotiate
salary to get the final salary for
with TTUTA.
the year 2016 – 2017.
Ageing of the Data
The Personnel Department and
The next step in the process is TTUTA are well on the way to
that of ageing of the data
completing that exercise. It is
where necessary. The market
hoped that at the next meeting
salaries are determined at the
last year of our Collective Agree- the information will be reviewed
ment October 1st 2016 to Sep- and its use confirmed so that
tember 30th 2017. Therefore, the ageing process could be
any market salary that has an
done and the market salaries
agreement that does not fall on
finalized.

Know
PROPOSALS FOR THE 2017-2020
Your
PERIOD
Regulations!!

• Education Act

• Maternity Pro-
tection Act
The General Council decided that the
• Sexual Offences
Association should put out a Notice
Act
for members to submit proposals for
the 2017-2020 Collective Agreement • Public Service
period. The notice published on 1st Regulations
February, 2021 with the deadline
• OSH Act
date for submission being Friday
12th March, 2021. Kindly send • T&T Constitu-
your submissions to tion

[email protected]

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

 TOWN HALL MEETINGS:

Given that there is a need to continue to reach and educate our mem-
bers using the virtual setting, we have decided to convert District Out-
reach to a series of out Town Hall Meetings. The tentative schedule is
hereunder:

DATE TIME DISTRICT/BRANCH

TBA - PORT OF SPAIN

TBA - ST. GEORGE EAST

TBA - NORTH EASTERN

Wednesday 17th February 4pm TOBAGO

Tuesday 9th March 4pm CARONI

Thursday 18th March 4pm VICTORIA

Tuesday 20th April 4pm SOUTH EASTERN

Thursday 22nd April 4pm ST. PATRICK

Thursday 6th May 4pm BRANCH

Districts are asked to assist with organizing these meetings. Districts

still have the opportunity to recommend schools that may need inter-
vention and arrangements will be made to treat with those schools.
Special arrangements would also be made for the members in the Third
Schedule.

Understanding Extended Sick Leave & Its Complications!!

In recent times the Association has made to apply for sick leave as
had to deal with many cases of soon as the sick leave certifi-
persons having to repay the Minis- cate is received from the doc-
try of Education (MOE) money tor. Teachers are required to
that was paid to them while on ex- submit their application for
tended sick leave. The Association such leave as soon as it is hu-
is now issuing the following guide- manly possible to do so. If this
lines on extended sick leave: is not possible, then the Officer
should give a written explana-
• Extended sick leave is NOT tion for the late submission of
a right—so teachers are not the sick leave certificate.
‘automatically’ entitled to it.

• In order to get extended

sick leave, a medical certif-
icate from a Government
Officer (i.e. a District Med-
ical Officer or a doctor
from a Government Medi-
cal Institution) is re-
quired. Every effort must be

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

Understanding Extended Sick Leave & Its Complications (cont’d)

• The sick leave certificate must leave or no pay leave. Periods of

give specific details about the no pay leave are not counted
nature of the illness i.e. a Clinical when calculating pension and
report should be done by the gratuity. Additionally, half pay
doctor stating, in simple terms, leave means half of the time
the nature of the illness. Failure spent on extended sick leave will
to do so will result in leave being be counted as no pay leave.
classified as no pay sick leave.
Every effort must be made to • Not withstanding everything that
have the sick leave certificate was said before, the granting of
submitted to the Principal as extended sick leave is also de-
soon as possible. The Principal pendent on the Officer’s leave
must submit the sick leave certif- record.
icate to the Benefits Manage-
• When an Officer gets a letter
ment Section of the MOE, for
from the MOE classifying his/her
classification. Failure of the Prin-
extended sick leave as no pay
cipal to do so can result in disci-
leave or half pay leave the Officer
plinary action being taken
ought to get in contact with the
against the Principal.
Benefits Management Section of
• Teachers are reminded that if the MOE to make arrangements
they are absent for one (1) month to pay or seek clarification on the
without excuse, then the MOE classification of leave given.
can initiate abandonment pro-
• In the event that an Officer has
ceedings against them.
to repay money to the MOE he/
• If a pattern of leave taking can be she must ensure that the relevant
discerned by the Employer then forms are completed so that
the Officer can be asked to sub- compensation could be sought
mit himself/herself to a Medical from the National Insurance
Board examination to determine Board for loss of earnings.
their continued employment
• Officers, who are TTUTA
with the MOE.
members, are reminded that if
• Extended sick leave includes they are in doubt bout the mat-
weekends and public holidays. ters mentioned , they can contact
That is, all the days are counted TTUTA for assistance.
as leave taken.

• If extended sick leave continues

into the school holiday and the Reminders
Officer returns after the school
vacation, then the entire vacation • In order to get extended
is counted as extended sick leave. sick leave, a medical certifi-
cate from a Government
In order to break such extended
Officer (i.e. a District Medi-
sick leave, the Officer MUST re- cal Officer or a doctor from
port to the Education District a Government Medical In-
Office at the end of his/her peri- stitution) is required.
od of extended sick leave. On re-
porting to the Education District • Ensure that your doctor
produces a CLINICAL Re-
Office, the Officer must complete port, when accessing ex-
a Resumption of Duty form and tended sick leave, which
must produce a letter from the details your illness in sim-
doctor indicating that he/she is ple terms.
fit for duty. The Officer then pro-
• Keep copies of all docu-
ceeds on vacation.
ments submitted re your
extended sick leave.
• Extended sick leave can be clas-
sified as full pay leave, half pay

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

 DETERMINING YOUR INCREMENTAL POINT

STEP INSTRUCTIONS EXAMPLE

1. Find your Grade on If you are a Teacher I you will be

the salary scale. at Grade 3. If your year of ap-
Your salary starts at pointment is 2007, then your
the Minimum Scale first salary will be at Minimum in
of the Grade you are Grade 3 which is $9793
in. (according to the above salary
scale).
2. Every year, with A Teacher I whose year of ap-
every favourable pointment is 2007 will start with
Staff Report made a salary of $9793 for 2007 and by
for you, you are to the year 2014-2015 should be at
move one point Maximum Scale ($12240).
ahead on the Scale
starting from Mini- See the example below this table.
mum then A, B, C,
D, E, F then Maxi-
mum.
3. When a teacher
reaches the Maxi- See the example below this table.
mum Point, he/she
should progress
through every Lon-
gevity every two (2)
years providing that
they have received
favourable Staff Re-
ports.
4. After reaching 5th
Longevity, the
teacher will no long-
er receive incre-
ments in that Grade.

The payment of increments are dependent on the completion of staff reports.

Always ensure that you receive a completed copy of your staff report. Remem-
ber according to Circular Memorandum No. 25 of 2016 : Request for copies of
Confidential Staff Reports and Special Reports, you are entitled to a copy, upon
request. DO NOT sign blank staff reports or those completed in pencil.

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

 2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014 Note:
2016 After you have
2018 reached maxi-
mum, longevity
2020
is paid in
2022 alternate years.
2024

The example below is for a Teacher whose year of appointment is 2007

INCREMENTS
SCALE YEAR
DUE
Min. 2007 Starting Salary
2007 A 2008 Yes
2008 B 2009 Yes

2009 C 2010 Yes

D 2011 Yes
2010 E 2012 Yes
2011 F 2013 Yes

2012 Max. 2014 Yes

Max. 2015 NO
2013 1st 2016 Yes
2014 1 st
2017 NO

2016 2nd 2018 Yes

nd
2 2019 NO
2018 3rd 2020 Yes
2020 3 rd
2021 NO

2022 4th 2022 Yes

th
4 2023 NO
2024 5th 2024 Yes
th
Note: After you have reached maximum, 5 2025+ NO
longevity is paid in alternate years.

Upon promotion, the teacher would move to the

nearest point to their salary in the next higher
grade on the scale in the grade to which the Of-
ficer was promoted.

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

 WHEN A TEACHER DIES IN SERVICE
The survivors of a teacher who this Fund appears on a teacher’s
dies in Service must ensure that pay slip, the payment is sub-
as soon as possible the death cer- sumed in the National Insurance
tificate is delivered to the Minis- contribution, and the benefit is
try of Education. Once the death based on the number and level of
certificate is submitted, the min- contributions made by the teach-
istry will pay salary for the month er.
in which death has occurred and
commence the process of compu- Where the teacher was a member
ting the death gratuity which is of the Association a death benefit
payable to the estate of the de- payment is applicable, as well as
ceased. This payment is made on- the Group Health Plan death
ly after letters of administration benefit which is applicable to all
have been awarded or the will is members of the Teaching Service
probated. who contribute to the UNIMED
plan.
The quantum is equal to the gra-
tuity to which the teacher would Members are advised to ensure
have been entitled had he retired that their relatives are aware of
on the day of his passing. It is the benefits to which they are en-
based upon a formula utilizing titled and the procedures to be
the last salary the person was followed when it becomes neces-
working for and the number of sary.
months service he had, up to a
maximum of four hundred (400)
months.

Where the teacher had less than

Death Benefits to Beneficiary
ten (10) years service the pay-
ment is at the rate of one month MOE:

per year up to a maximum of ten  One month salary

(10) years. Where it is more than
 Death Benefit
ten (10) years, the formula in the
previous paragraph is followed.  Death Gratuity
The family of a male teacher will TTUTA MEMBERS:
also be entitled to benefits under
 $10,000
the Widows and Orphans’ Pen-
sion Fund, which is administered UNIMED:
separately, and for which appli-
 $50,000
cation must be made to the rele-
vant Section of the Pensions Divi-
sion of the Treasury Department.
See Teachers Pension Act Chap-
Although no deduction towards ter 39:02, Section 14.

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

 PROCEDURE FOR ACCESSING THE BENEFITS

SPOUSE OF THE DECEASED

If you are claiming this benefit as the spouse of the deceased, you
are first in line to receive such and are required to submit both origi
nals and copies of the following documents:
Marriage Certificate (common law spouse are not eligible to claim).
• Death Certificate of the deceased.
• Statutory Declaration claiming benefits as next of kin (not having di-
vorced the deceased)
• Letter of Application from claimant with signature affixed.
• Supporting Affidavit (if necessary), should any of the relevant per-
sons’ names be omitted from or stated differently on Certificates
submitted.

CHILDREN OF THE DECEASED

If you are claiming this benefit as a child or children of the deceased,

you are second in the line to receive such and are requested to submit
both copies and originals of the following documents:
• Birth Certificate of the deceased and claimant/s.
• Death Certificate of the deceased.
• Death Certificate of spouse of deceased (if relevant)
• Divorce Decree of deceased (if relevant)
• Application letter (or letters), signed by all children of the deceased,
either claiming or waving benefits. Legal Guardians should apply on
behalf of minor children.
• Statutory Declaration verifying number of children of the deceased,
and/or, stating the relationship between minor children and appli-
cant Declaration should also state that the deceased was never re-
married after divorce (if relevant).
• Supporting Affidavit (if necessary) should any of the relevant per-
sons names be omitted from, or stated differently on any of the sub-
mitted Certificates.
• Children over the eighteen (18) deemed to deficient or retarded, are
also eligible. The legal guardian/applicant applying in their behalf
must submit medical evidence to support the child’s condition.

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

PARENT OF THE DECEASED

If you are claiming this benefit as the parent pf the de-

ceased, you are third in line to receive such and are re-
quired to submit both copies and originals of the follow-
ing documents:
• Birth certificate of the deceased and claimant.
• Death Certificate of deceased.
• Statutory Declaration claiming benefits as deceased
had no spouse or children.
Application letters signed by claimant.
• Supporting Affidavit (if necessary), should any of the relevant
persons’ names be omitted from, or stated differently on the sub-
mitted Certificates.
Parents are always deemed to be first in line for death
benefit, should the deceased have died as a childless bach-
elor or spinster.

SIBLINGS OF THE DECEASED

If you are claiming as the sibling of the deceased, you are fourth in
line to receive such and are required to submit both copies and origi
nals of the following documents:
• Birth certificate of claimant and deceased.
• Birth Certificate, or Death Certificate of parent/s in common.
• Death Certificate of the deceased.
• Supporting Affidavit/s should any of the relevant persons’ names
be omitted from, or stated differently on submitted certificates.
• Statutory declaration claiming benefits as deceased had no
spouse, children or parents eligible to claim.
• Application letters signed by claimant. Should there be other sib-
lings, signed letter/s or consent from them.

If you are claiming this benefit as a sundry relative of the deceased,

you are fifth in line to receive such and are required to submit both
copies and originals of the following documents:
• Birth certificate of claimant and deceased.
• Death Certificate of the deceased.
• Statutory Declaration supporting relationship to the deceased.
• Application letter signed by the claimant.
• Supporting Affidavit (if necessary), should any of the relevant
persons’ names be omitted from, or stated differently on the sub-
mitted Certificates.

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

PREPARATION FOR PROMOTION WORKSHOP

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

TTUTA hosts its first VIRTUAL 5K RACE as we continue to manoeuvre
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Let's move with purpose and assist
some students to acquire devices for online engagement whilst enjoying
the benefits brought on by exercise.

Registration Link:

https://www.caribislesports.com/cisttuta5k/

STUDENTS

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING

Powered by the Committee on Gender Issues

UNITED, RESOLUTE & GROWING