In recent times, there has not only been talk of pension reform, but it has been instituted. This bold move, in my opinion, seeks to assure many that it is actually secure to grow old, for now people who had nothing much to look forward to in their retired years, now can count on taking care of themselves.
This pension reform embraces statutory bodies, statutory bodies that had no pension in place for workers.
I think of my brothers and sisters in the TAMCC – a place which, statutory as they may be called, still relies on frequent Government injections. My brothers and sisters there must have been relieved to hear that finally, they would be covered by a real pension, one that actively considers and has promised to calculate their years of service.
I know they were joyful, for they were seeing light at the end of the tunnel; they had been struggling in that dark tunnel for quite some time now, struggling with a scheme, recently ratified even though no one knows for sure what it covers.
In fact, what they do know is what it does not cover – their years of service. They have an apparent optional savings plan with Ariza, which was recently ratified by the current Board, and dares to call itself pension.
Now that the contributory, reformed pension is up and running, the million dollar question is why is the management of TAMCC still dragging its feet to begin deductions for this reformed pension once and for all? They are dragging their foot, in the exercise of trying to wind up the scheme with Ariza; they are dragging their foot on collecting key information, to go back to the bargaining table regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement; they are dragging their foot on making calculations which are to be presented to the government; they are dragging their foot on everything. Meanwhile teachers are getting restless from this drag footedness.
My friends at the institute have told me that there is a certain pear tree planted in the path of progress; my friends say that this PEAR tree has some fruits on the Board of the institution; my friends tell me that this PEAR tree, hopeful of becoming the leading tree in the orchard, has her hooks among a few in the administration, much to the disgust of the rank and file teachers.
This PEAR tree with unrealistic expectations and which is the major stumbling block was the same PEAR tree, which during the industrial problems at the school in 2022, promised teachers, in a public meeting in a village, that she “is coming for dem”.
My friends say they are getting restless, and are not willing or able to sit out this stalling exercise too long. As for me, I am just waiting for the call, to join them in solidarity as soon as they are ready for me.
One PEAR tree must not be allowed to bear her fruits among certain Board Members, nor the one or two in the administration who are waiting for the prize she has promised them, “when she returns”.
This PEAR tree with all its wood ants has infested the Board, and some Heads, so it is time for the exterminator. The exterminator is needed for the wood ants in the Board and in some Heads. In fact, all damn PEAR trees and their saplings, must be uprooted, so true transformation can work.
Let’s get on with the business!
TAMCC Watchman