The TT Unified Teachers Association’s (TTUTA) plans to have teachers take a day of rest and reflection today, September 26 was cancelled after the Industrial Court granted the Minister of Labour an ex-parte injunction.

TTUTA’s president, Antonia Tekah-DeFreitas, has since told teachers to go out to work and that the action taken by the government was a win for the organisation. The information that the injunction was granted was relayed by Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, during a press conference yesterday September 25, at his office in Port of Spain.

According to Armour, the decision was taken to move against the teachers’ actions because:

“The government was not prepared to allow that illegality to continue in light of the very clear case law and sections 65, 67 and 69 of the Industrial Relations Act which makes it clear that the teaching service is an essential service and is not permitted to engage in industrial action far more so illegal industrial action.”