Caribbean Union of Teachers: Who We Are

The Caribbean Union of Teachers (C.U.T.) serves as an umbrella organization for teachers across the Caribbean, spanning from Bermuda in the north to Suriname in the south. This vital body includes twenty-six (26) teachers' unions from various regions, such as Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Suriname, Haiti, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Through C.U.T. activities, these teachers' unions in the Caribbean work collaboratively to enhance the educational landscape.

Amid the struggles faced by Caribbean working people in the region, a notable success was the establishment of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (C.U.T). The C.U.T came into existence on August 21st, 1935, with its inaugural meeting taking place in Trinidad and Tobago as the West Indies Teachers’ Association.

The C.U.T. was officially registered for the first time on October 12, 2015, in St. Lucia under the Labour Act of 2006. This registration enables the Caribbean Union of Teachers to function as a fully-fledged Trade Union and to engage in C.U.T. activities while exercising trade union rights and responsibilities as mandated by law.

The Caribbean Union of Teachers is directed and administered by: 

The Biennial Conference, which serves as the supreme authority of the organization, overseeing all C.U.T. activities. 

The Executive Committee 

Officer Corps (Elected Officers) 

The Secretariat

The Executive Committee consists of: 

The elected officers (President, 1st VP, 2nd VP, 3rd VP, and two trustees) along with one representative from each member unit, ensuring that all teachers unions in the Caribbean are represented. 

The General Secretary and the Deputy General Secretary.

For the first time, the Caribbean Union of Teachers (C.U.T.) adopted a Five Year Strategic Plan (2017-22) to guide its affairs. This significant decision was made at the Executive meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in December 2016. Among the prominent C.U.T. activities undertaken, the following stand out: Biennial Conference, Executive meetings held twice yearly, various Trade Union workshops, the Biennial Education Conference, the Biennial Students Under 15 Track and Field Championships (known as the C.U.T. Games), and the Biennial Les Harris Cricket Competition for Teachers.

As of August 11, 1999, the Caribbean Union of Teachers (C.U.T.) entered into an agreement with Education International (E.I), establishing C.U.T. as an autonomous body within E.I. Education International recognizes C.U.T. as the representative body for teachers' unions in the Caribbean. Governed by its own constitution and Bye Laws, C.U.T. operates under the understanding that it is also subject to the constitution and Bye Laws of E.I.