After prolonged negotiations, approximately 14,000 educators in Trinidad and Tobago are finally set to receive their long-awaited salary adjustments and back payments. The breakthrough came following a decisive December 10th meeting between the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) and Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindial at the Personnel Department headquarters in St. Clair.
TTUTA President Crystal Ashe confirmed to media outlets that the settlement covers the 2020-2023 period, featuring a compounded five percent salary increase distributed as one percent, one percent, and three percent increments. Notably, the agreement extends beyond classroom teachers to include Third Schedule members such as school supervisors, curriculum officers, and guidance personnel who had previously been uncertain about their inclusion.
Dr. Dindial committed to processing all payments by the end of January 2026, acknowledging that logistical constraints prevented December distribution. While refusing to guarantee absolute deadlines, he emphasized concerted efforts toward meeting the January timeframe.
The resolution follows TTUTA’s April pre-election acceptance of the government’s offer, which also included an adjustment to the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), increased to $51 effective October 31, 2023. According to budget statements, the implementation carries substantial financial implications—$214 million in recurrent annual costs plus $730 million in arrears through December 2025.
Additional discussions addressed healthcare coverage expansion through Unimed to include retired educators and travel compensation for Tobago-based curriculum coordinators. The CPO’s office characterized the negotiations as ‘highly productive’ in building foundations for ongoing dialogue.
The development comes despite TTUTA’s public appeal on December 4th for Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s personal intervention to secure pre-Christmas payments. While the PM subsequently committed to settling separate Public Services Association agreements at ten percent with advance holiday payments, she notably omitted reference to other trade unions’ pending settlements during parliamentary proceedings.