BvL not allowed to strike over revaluation program

The court on Thursday ruled in favor of the government which means that the Teachers’ Association (BvL) is not allowed to go on strike over the revlaution program. If it decides to go on strike, it will have to pay a penalty for non-compliance. Judge Suzanne Chu on Thursday ruled in favor of the government which had filed the lawsuit in respond to the teacher strike. The judge also rejected the BvL’s counterclaim. Dwight Kraag, one of the attorneys representing the government, pointed out that the lawsuit was aimed at getting the education process to be resumed. After the teachers had gone back to work, the State modified its demand and asked that the BvL be banned from going on strike fit does not agree with the execution of parts of the revaluation program. Kraag explained that the BvL had a problem with the revaluation program while the Alliance for Teachers in Suriname (ALS) had a problem with the situation at O.S. Uitkijk. The ALS reportedly withdrew its counterclaim during the legal proceedings. Kraag pointed out that the State had always indicated that it wanted to negotiate. The judge had initially proposed that both parties should try to talk things out but the plaintiff noticed that the defendant kept presenting something else every time both parties had reached an agreement. The attorney pointed out that the State eventually indicated that talking under those circumstances was useless. The State has indicated that it would start implementing the revlaution program on April 1. Wilgo Valies, chairman of the BvL, told Times of Suriname that he is puzzled by the State’s demand. “If we are not allowed to go on strike over the same issue what are we supposed to do? It is unclear to me,” said Valies who added that he would discuss the ruling with his attorney before making the next move.