B.N.T.U., the Media and the Way Forward

Ruth Shoman

The media has for years been a partner, providing a platform for the union to get its message across to the nation. During her first interview following the resounding victory, the incoming B.N.T.U. president spoke of the relationship with the media, and the serious work that must be done. 

Ruth Shoman, President-Elect, B.N.T.U.

“I love the media, I’ve worked with the media, but I think the media is to be used accordingly. And we have, I think B.N.T.U. has a really good relationship with the media, but the business of B.N.T.U. is the business of B.N.T.U. and for me to reach to my membership, I didn’t need the media; I needed the one-on-one.  And to me that was very important to be able to communicate with my members in my own way through the means that B.N.T.U. provides because that shows that we are connecting with our members. I’ll go to the media when it is necessary to go and I will keep the business of the union within the business of the union. The whole excitement of the campaign is over, but we have serious work to do. We have a pension reform that is right around, it is hitting us. We have to sit down and start preparing for these issues. We have to look at tax reform. We have to look at the amendments necessary in the education rules, the education act. We have to seriously look think about the functions of teaching services Commission and how we can step it up to ensure that teachers are further protected through legislation. So for my membership, we have a lot of work to do.”