ST. CROIX — A recent legal dispute between two high-ranking leaders of the St. Croix Federation of Teachers has been dismissed by the Superior Court, though the internal conflict it represents remains unresolved, according to both parties.
The case, which revolved around a request for a restraining order following a physical altercation during an Executive Board meeting last Monday between President Tamieka Phillipus and Vice President Sandra Antoine, has been dismissed without prejudice — meaning it can be refiled if future incidents occur.
Phillipus claims the vice president attacked her during the meeting held at the headquarters of the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1826 in Estate Calquohoun. She filed for a temporary restraining order and permanent restraining order in an action for harassment in Superior Court.
“I was attacked by the vice president,” Phillipus said, claiming that members of the Executive Board witnessed the incident.
Since the case involves an action for harassment, a court hearing on the matter that was held on Tuesday was closed to the public and media.
In an interview following the hearing, Phillipus said Antoine has been suspended following the incident.
“It’s unfortunate, it’s not something that I’m proud of,” the president said. “But as the leader of this organization, no one should be in fear of someone lifting a chair attacking them because a meeting is not going in their favor.”
While Phillipus asserts that she was attacked, Antoine claims Phillipus was the aggressor who physically assaulted her. Antoine said the president became upset after being confronted with an email from her refuting claims that she did not attend union meetings. She said Phillipus used obscene language and accused Antoine of “punking” her.
“She started walking towards me and coming towards me aggressively,” Antoine said. “So, I stood up, and I held my chair to protect myself.”
According to Antoine, Phillipus then swung at her. She said other executive board members intervened but claimed their efforts to restrain her allowed the president more opportunity to attack.
“I wasn’t trying to attack anyone,” Antoine said. “I was pretty much trying to defend myself with someone coming towards me to attack me.”
Antoine said she filed a police report the same day, indicating that she had scratches on her face, a torn shirt, and a broken necklace. WTJX reached out to the Virgin Islands Police Department for a copy of the report but was unable to obtain it as of publication time.
After the incident, Antoine said she was denied entry to the union office last Wednesday ahead of a meeting of the Representative Council — a body made up of elected building representatives from each school site. Antoine said police officers who arrived as she was leaving told her that the president indicated she had filed a temporary restraining order against her. However, according to Antoine, the TRO request was denied the day before.
Antoine described a long-standing pattern where the president allegedly denied her requests to attend events or visit member sites, prevented her from participating in key union activities, and limited her engagement with union members by assigning her to less active school sites. Antoine, who described Phillipus as being “power crazy,” believes her exclusion stems not from performance issues, but from internal politics.
“It just seems as if she just wants me completely out of there so that her circle of friends can be a part of the organization,” she said.
Antoine noted that Magistrate Judge Yolan Brow Ross emphasized the importance of collaboration among union leadership.
“The judge encouraged for us as leaders to try to work together, and the battle should not be about fighting each other, but issues as it pertains to the union or the organization where the members are encountering differences,” she said.
Phillipus and Antoine both said the judge indicated there was insufficient evidence to justify a restraining order, as only a single incident had occurred, and no pattern of stalking or harassment was established.
“I actually filed for a permanent restraining order because me and Miss Antoine cannot work together again,” Phillipus said. “It has already gotten physical.”
However, because the case was dismissed without prejudice, any future altercations could potentially reopen legal proceedings, using last Monday’s incident as supporting evidence.
Antoine also took the opportunity to address her status within the union, challenging her suspension as illegitimate. She claims that the president bypassed proper due process, allegedly coercing the Representative Council into voting for her suspension in violation of union bylaws.
“The president indicated that I was suspended,” Antoine said. “However, I was suspended by due process not being followed, which it was an illegal act.”
Antoine, who said her suspension should be null and void, was replaced by Radiant Morris, a former candidate for the role who lost to Antoine in the union’s election. The current terms expire in April 2026.
Phillipus confirmed that Antoine is currently suspended pending expulsion while an internal investigation is conducted. She emphasized that due process will be followed and that multiple witnesses are available to testify.
