The BSTU needs to read Sun Tzu

I have often been accused of having a regimental mind. I believe one should live their lives according to a set of rules and naturally my early exposure to military discipline have shaped my view of the world.  Now having said that let me continue my assessment of the current situation at the Alexandra School.  I was tempted to approach this article as a parent of a child preparing for CXC at the Alexandra School and use this space as a forum for venting the frustrations I feel at the current situation. However, that ever present discipline kicked in and I am going to fore go emotion for logical observation.

I must ask. "Was I the only person not surprised by the fact that the BSTU embarrassed the Prime Minister by refusing to meet with his appointed committee to try to bring a resolution to this affair?"

From the start of this impasse the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union, (BSTU), has taken the position to withdraw the labour of their members from the school until the current principal is "separated" from the school. This was their position and by taking that position I immediate saw that this was going to be a problem. Thirteen (13) days ago I called for the Minister of Education to intervene because I saw that the approach the BSTU was taking was fundamentally flawed if the required result was a amicable resolution of perceived differences. As a trained military strategist I saw that the BSTU was not entering into a negotiation as is the case with most industrial relations disputes, they were going to WAR!

As trade unionist the BSTU would have been familiar with the collective bargaining process which comprises of five core steps:

Preparation: This phase involves composition of a negotiation team. The negotiation team should consist of representatives of both the parties with adequate knowledge and skills for negotiation. In this phase both sides examine their own situation in order to develop the issues that they believe will be most important. The first thing to be done is to determine whether there is actually any reason to negotiate at all. A correct understanding of the main issues to be covered and intimate knowledge of operations, working conditions, production norms and other relevant conditions is required.

Discussion: Here, the parties decide the ground rules that will guide the negotiations. A process well begun is half done and this is no less true in case of collective bargaining. An environment of mutual trust and understanding is also created so that the collective bargaining agreement would be reached.

Proposition: This phase involves the initial opening statements and the possible options that exist to resolve them. In a word, this phase could be described as ‘brainstorming’. The exchange of messages takes place and opinion of both the parties is sought.

Bargaining: negotiations are easy if a problem solving attitude is adopted. This stage comprises the time when ‘what ifs’ and ‘supposals’ are set forth and the drafting of agreements take place.

Settlement: Once the parties are through with the bargaining process, a consensual agreement is reached upon wherein both the parties agree to a common decision regarding the problem or the issue. This stage is described as consisting of effective joint implementation of the agreement through shared visions, strategic planning and negotiated change.

The BSTU decided to bypass the first four(4) of these stages so how can we expect them to reach stage Five(5)?

By stating their non-negotiable position they effectively declared war. However, since they were not trained in the strategies of war they made a few fundamental mistakes. They ignored the following principles as espoused by Sun Tzu in his definitive work, "The Art of War."

"To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape." Sun Tzu

"Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory." Sun Tzu

Issuing ultimatums leave no room for negotiation. It only means that you are forcing the other party to fight for their lives and they will thus respond by fighting even harder that they would have done if given a choice. The Principal was forced to rally his supporters and gather his forces in preparation for a fight to the death, thereby resulting in the stand off we see today. For there to be a hope of a settlement all parties must be willing to negotiate. The BSTU obviously never had any intention of negotiating. However, it is obvious that  they have no clearly defined battle strategy and their tactics appear to be one of laying siege to the education system in Barbados.

"The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his men to the assault like swarming ants, 

with the result that one-third of his men are slain, while the town still remains untaken. Such are the disastrous effects of a siege." 

Sun Tzu

Unfortunately, the ones that will suffer most in these circumstances is the children and we as a society cannot and should not allow this to happen. The BSTU, by declaring war against the, "inability of the Ministry of Education to address their concerns,"  have declared war on the Trade Union Movement of Barbados, the Government of Barbados and more importantly on the Children of Barbados. The BSTU were obviously not aware of the following:- 

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win." Sun Tzu

My major concern regarding the effect of this war on our children was highlighted by my daughter, a student of Alexandra. She feels betrayed by the actions of the teachers and it is the general consensus among her peers that the absent teachers' blatant disregard for the effect their actions will have on their education and consequently their future is an unforgivable act and that they will never be able to relate in the same way to these teachers again.  The powers that be are now faced with the fact that neither the students or the parents have any confidence in the ability of the striking teachers to act in the best interest of the children at Alexandra School. Even if this impasse was to finish tomorrow, I for one would be uncomfortable with these teachers being again put in charge of my child.

Where do we go from here?

Mr. Prime Minister as Commander in Chief , on one hand you are faced with a General, (Minister of Education) who has just lost the Battle of Constitution Road to a mutinous band of renegades, (the BSTU), and is in retreat. The BSTU, who you thought was under your command, has launched a vicious attack on the most vulnerable members of society and your people are under siege.  What is your next move?

Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognises nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate ground. Mr. Prime Minister in December you were on serious ground, you have now passed through difficult to hemmed-in ground and you can see desperate ground in the near distance. 

What should your strategy be?

Sun Tzu teaches that on hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem.  Mr. Prime Minister, it is time to get creative. The Art of War states in regards to hemmed-ground :-

"In such a position, some scheme must be devised which will suit the circumstances, and if we can succeed in deluding the enemy, the peril may be escaped." This is exactly what happened on the famous occasion when Hannibal was hemmed in among the mountains on the road to Casilinum, and to all appearances entrapped by the dictator Fabius.  When night came on, bundles of twigs were fastened to the horns of some 2000 oxen and set on fire, the terrified animals being then quickly driven along the mountain side towards the passes which were beset by the enemy. The strange spectacle of these rapidly moving lights so alarmed and discomfited the Romans that they withdrew from their position, and Hannibal's army passed safely through.

The lesson here is simple. Something decisive and dramatic needs to be done. Mr. Prime Minister, I listened to your "heads will role speech" last year and I am still waiting for the guillotine to fall. At the  St. Lucy Parish Church, during a service of thanksgiving in honour of the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, I listened to you described the teachers’ strike at the Alexandra Secondary School as, "a lot of unnecessary controversy." You went on to say, “I want to assure you that I am going to give this matter my immediate attention.” 

“I have been hearing the arguments for and against what has been going on at that school. I have been hearing who is right and who is wrong. However, I know who are not wrong – the students of Alexandra School are not wrong,”  you stated.

“However, our children have been left at a disadvantage, as we await the appropriate processes to work,” you said.

“The situation at Alexandra will be put to an end. This adolescent exhibition of immaturity has to be brought to an end.” 

Nice words but why does the following quote come to mind?

...... but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5

It is indeed ironic that. Mr. Patrick Frost, the esteemed gentleman and teacher who first taught me to appreciate the beauty of words like these whilst I was his student at the Lodge School,  should have his name adorn the building wherein this present flawed strategy was conceptualised  by the BSTU. However, I digress.

Desperate ground is on the horizon, Mr. Prime Minister. Sun Tzu teaches:-

On desperate ground, fight.  Sun Tzu

Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear to prevent co-operation between his large and small divisions, to hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men. When the enemy's men were united, they managed to keep them in disorder. If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: "Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will." 

Rapidity is the essence of war.  Sun Tzu

I will only say to you Mr. Prime Minister, that a job is is a dear possession in these difficult times and there must be some consequence for refusing to do it when ordered to by your employers. Carpe Diem Mr. Prime Minister, the next move is yours. We are watching. I leave you with this quote by another famous Chinese General :-

"Knowing the enemy enables you to take the offensive, knowing yourself enables you to stand on the defensive. Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack. It would be hard to find a better epitome of the root-principle of war." Chang Yu