The Antigua & Barbuda Union of Teachers is a Democratic Cooperative type of organization. Membership is solely by choice. The membership 'owns' the Union. The structure is as follows: Annual General Conference, The Executive, The Staff Representatives, and the General Membership.

Annual General Conference

Major projects and policies are decided on by the Annual General Conference. The Conference is an annual event with in which the general membership are informed of the previous years activities and are afforded the opportunity via resolutions to amend, rescind, chat or direct the course of the organisation. Conference is regularly held on Ascension Day each year. All members are required to be in attendance. Conference is presided over by the President of the organisation who during the Opening Ceremony provides a breakdown of the Union's past achievements and hurdles while and pointing the way to its future advancement. This is done though the State of the Union address.

The major business of the Union is conducted during the Plenary Session after ceremonial matters have been attended to. During this period reports are tabled compiled in what is known as the Conference Document. These are Minutes of the previous conference and the Secretary General's report for the conference year provided by the Secretary General, The Audited Financial Statements provided by the Treasurer, other reports deemed of major significance to the membership which have been mandated by Conference; two presently being the Teachsurance report provided by the Treasurer and the Board of Education report provided by the duly appointed representative. Members are free to question or comment on any aspect of the reports provided they adhere to the Standing Orders adopted.

Another pivotal activity of the Conference is the proposing of, discussion on and eventual voting for or against resolutions.

The Executive

The Executive Committee executes Conference decisions as well as overseeing the immediate running of the Union. As such this body may provide direction for the proper management of the organisation through the formulation of plans, instituting of activities, and the adequate dissemination of information to the General Membership. The Executive of the Union is not empowered to initiate any action contrary to the Constitution. General duties of each Executive Member are outlined within the Constitution. Furthermore, the Executive, from time to time, may designate specific duties to individual members. The Executive is empowered to take decisive measures to facilitate the smooth functioning of the Union.

The Executive comprises of thirteen officers, namely; President with two Vice Presidents, Secretary General and an assistant, Treasurer and an assistant, three Members-at-Large, two Trustees and the Immediate Past-President. The Executive serves a three year life span after which elections are held. Constitutionally, elections should be held within the third year before the next General Conference.

The President

This officer is the leader of the Union, the elected head administrator/director of the Union. The President is expected to function within the guidelines of the Union's Constitution. In conjunction with the majority decisions of the Executive, the President plans, implements, and evaluates strategies and programmes to achieve the objectives outlined in the Union's Constitution. The President of the Antigua & Barbuda Union of Teachers is also the Chief Representative of the Union on all fronts. ON MATTERS OF POLICY, THE PRESIDENT IS GUIDED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND DULY ACCEPTED RESOLUTIONS OF CONFERENCE AND EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETINGS.

The Secretary General

This officer is the supervisor of the Union's Secretariat. The duties of this officer include communicating with Staff Representatives, the General Membership, affiliated Organizations, the Ministry of Education, Schools, and the Establishment Department. The Secretary General is the confidant of the President and the pivot of the Union's Policies. The Secretary General is the Chief conciliator of disputes, negotiations, disciplinary matters, working conditions, and the other problems which affect the Members of the Union. The Secretary General is the automatic choice to represent the Union when the President is unavailable. THE SECRETARY GENERAL SUPERVISES AND PROTECTS THE UNION'S RECORDS.

The Treasurer

Financial management is crucial to the Union's success. The Treasurer has a serious responsibility as the comptroller of the Union's funds. The Treasurer shall ascertain the proper records of the Union's finances, shall prepare cheques for the signatures of the Secretary General and the President, having verified the authority and authenticity of the expenditure and signing first. Each cheque must be accompanied by a voucher which bears the particulars for the expenditure. The Treasurer shall prepare a monthly statement for Executive meetings and a termly statement for General Meeting. THE ANNUAL STATEMENT PRESENTED TO CONFERENCE IS THE AUDITOR'S STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. THE TREASURER IS IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THE UNION'S FINAICIAL ACCOUNTS.

The Members @ Large

These three officers perform functions at the behest of the President. They serve on the various committees of the Union assisting in the progress of the Organisation.

The Trustees

These two officers are custodians of the Union's assets and liabilities. They make periodic checks of the Union's records. The Union's assets are vested in the Trustees. The Trustees report to Conference.

The Immediate Past President

This officer performs an advisory, supportive function to the Executive.

The Seconded Officer {attached}

Via Contract signed with the Government of Antigua & Barbuda for 2000, provision was made whereby an officer was seconded to the Organization to assist in its day to day management. Said officer would be seconded in the first instance for two years then with the option to renew for one additional year. After the term of secondment the individual could not be seconded again. The officer would not loose his/her tenure in the Civil Service.

One of the functions of this officer is to visit schools to acquire from and provide information to the membership. The officer also investigates industrial nuisances that a member may encounter and serves as the representative on call. Additionally, the officer conducts research relevant to the forward movement of the organisation.

Mr. Foster Roberts (September 2001 to August 2004) and Mr. Franz Ladoo (September 2004 to August 2006) served as Seconded Officers.

The Staff Representative

Each school has a teacher chosen by the staff to bring its concerns to the Executive. Such an individual is called the Staff Representative.

The Staff Rep's job begins with all teachers at their school. They get themselves acquainted with all the teachers at school. They ought to know their teachers; their weaknesses, their idiosyncrasies, know if they are members of the Union or not. They must be exemplary workers, encouraging all members to be honest and earnest workers. Teachers judge the Union by their performance, first as a member of staff then as the Union's representative on staff.

Each Staff Rep is encouraged to be enthusiastic about the Union's ideas and programmes and by so doing members and non-members will take an interest. It is the Staff Rep who assists in making the Union flourish.

The Staff Rep's job is to strengthen the Union by building and supporting its programme among the teachers. They are the Union's leader in the School. They must tell the workers about the Union's activities. They must build loyalty to Union goals. They must be aware of the achievements, agreements, functions, affiliations, relationship and aspirations of the Union. This means becoming actively involved in meetings and reading correspondences from the Executive. They must encourage new teachers to become members of the Union.

They must be professional in their dealings with fellow teachers, especially when requested to mediate disputes between Principals of Schools and other members of Staff. Contentions among teachers are never conducive to progress. Staff Reps must be ready to seal rifts and thus promote good relations among members. They should be fair in their judgment and more likely will win the respect of all concerned

Staff Rep should know their limits, their duties and their jurisdictions. They should keep good records of events and solutions. At least two scheduled meeting per term should be called to discuss and analyze problems facing the members. They should confer with Executive from time to time to keep the line of communication between the Union and the School active. Such dialogue should bring the Executive aware of members having difficulties.

General Membership

Membership is open to all teachers in the state of Antigua and Barbuda regardless of color, creed, race, social status, political affiliation or religious denomination. The single required factor is that you be or have been a teacher. The majority of the membership is comprised of teachers within the Public Sector. Membership is also found at the St. John's Catholic School, Sunnyside Tutorial School, St. Joseph's Academy, Christian Union Junior Academy, St. Michael's School and the Sunnydale School.

Secretariat Staff
Secretary Administration

This is a full-time paid position with the Union. The Executive of the Union is charged with the authority for all employment. However, all vacant positions must be advertised. The vacancy and the expectations of the Executive must be included in the advertisement. At the first General Meeting following the existence of the vacancy, a special bulletin concerning the vacancy and the necessary qualifications needed by applicants should be included. The Salaries for the Full-time or Part-time staff must be advertised in the Schools. Should there be at least 10% of the membership who consider the salaries too high; an Extra-ordinary Meeting must be called to resolve the matter. The Executive must provide each staff with a written description of their duties after the three months probationary period. Full-time/Part-time Staff report to the Secretary General and the President.

Ms. Joan Parker has been the full time Secretary Administration since September 1992.