Valies to fight against decree on revaluation

“The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture did not meet with the unions before reaching a decision regarding the revaluation program,” said Wilgo Valies, chairman of the Teachers’ Association (BvL) and the Alliance of Teachers in Suriname (ALS), in response to the official decree that was issued.

Valies pointed out that the main reason why “we will fight against this decree is because the previous decree was issued without the unions’ consent.” “The government stepped on the unions’ achievements with the previous decree.”

Valies has already contacted Robby Berenstein, chairman at the C-47 labor union federation, who is also a member of the State Council. The decision was made and approved on Monday but the BvL and the ALS still have not been given the details of the decision. Both unions have protested against this procedure.

Valies explained that consultations must take place and that decisions must not be made at random. “It can’t be one-sided. All measures take place without the involvement of the BvL and the ALS. Measures were taken against teachers,” said Valies. The government no longer wants to facilitate the unions even though the convention of the International Labor Organization (ILO) clearly indicates how people must work with the unions. “The government wants to cut out the union any way it can,” said Valies who added that the government is ‘messing’ with the liberties of the workers of the union. Many things are done against teachers such as forcing them to work until 3 p.m. But the teachers have a status which may not be trampled upon.” The union chairman pointed out that the unions will work hard to make sure that the measures are scrapped because the minister is busy silencing the unions and the unions will not accept that. “There are clear conventions aimed at securing the position of the union. Unions must be given the opportunity to do their job,” said Valies. “Legal action will be taken against the measures. We will also present our case to the ILO,” said Valies.