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Why Didn’t PSU and APSSM Join BNTU Strike?
Mon, October 17, 2016
So, today makes Day 10 of the strike, and although the teachers got an infusion of support from COLA, which we'll show you later on in the news, all they have right now is a commitment from the business community that they might shutdown - at some unknown date.

The teachers are therefore isolated in what has been a punishing 2 weeks, where their salary will more than likely be docked. So, shouldn't the other sister unions be joining them by now? That's what the press asked the other 2 Union leaders, and here's how they answered:

Sharon Frazer, Senior Magistrate
"The issues of good governance have been on the negotiating table from the very beginning and not just that, by extension, with the NTUCB. So that these issues have always been there. When in fact the deferral was brought to us, we said okay with the condition that some of these very good governance procedures were put in place. So it is not that we have not been supporting the good governance issue. We have always been there, we've always been supportive and we continue to be supportive and in fact demand that these good governance measures be put in place. So we've not said anything and we have not gone striking because we don't have an industrial dispute, legally for us to be striking would mean that we had an industrial dispute and we don't have one. So we cannot jeopardize our membership in that form and fashion."

Reporter
"However, in the union brother/sisterhood, it is general understanding that at some point you are expected to show solidarity with your fellow union."

Sharon Frazer, Senior Magistrate
"And we have. We have been showing solidarity. If you notice the fact that we are not out there is being responsible - behaving responsible. As I said we don't have an industrial dispute and strike is the last resort. In addition to that we are still negotiating. In fact today is reflection of the fact that we are still negotiating. So that we were for the deferral. If it is that we were not, maybe it would have given us the drive to go towards industrial actions. But we are not there. So people need to understand and respect the position that APSSM and PSU have taken. We've always supported, we've come here supportive. I want to let the public know that for one year we have been supporting the very proposal 22. It's not our proposal, but we have been fighting for it. Maybe it is they don't know this, but this is the opportunity I want to let them know that, that is the only proposal for over a year that myself, my brother president, have been fighting along with BNTU for."

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