Putting the record straight

LET me put the record straight.

The union members are not so gullible. They were in the dark but the PS for Ministry of Education has provided them the light, the light that FTU should have provided.

It was the general secretary FTU Muniappa Goundar who in his press release (FT 9/3/24) titled “Union slams minister” narrated the union’s role in regularisation process, admitting meeting the honoourable minister and the permanent secretary once.

Education Ministry’s PS Selina Kuruleca, while responding to the article, said that she “wants teachers’ unions to work on representing the majority of their members and not a handful of elite members”.

Wow, an employer reminding the unions of their roles.

She also informed the union members and the public at large that “MrGoundar continued to send us names of officers and also guided officers whom they recommended would be eligible for regularisation”.

Raynav Chand (FT 12/3/24) has put up some very pertinent questions to the general secretary FTU.

In fact it’s burning questions for the affected members of FTU.

Raynav has rightly pointed out that “all members pay an equal subscription but some are given special privileges. The union owes an explanation to the members”. Yes, explanation indeed. Raynav goes on to observe that “Unions have never come out clean on the reasons why they are so vehemently opposed to the regularisation process”.

Yes, now FTU can say the matter is before the çourt and thus “no comments” but prior to that the union should have moved around and sought the views of the members.

Members’ voices count.

ARUN PRASAD

Dilkusha, Nausori