Members of the Bermuda Union of Teachers have commenced working to rule and could take further action, after a breakdown in negotiations with the Ministry of Education.

Teachers agreed to work their contracted hours only following a vote at an emergency meeting held yesterday at St Paul AME Church.

They also voted unanimously to give “notice of action” at any time the union executive decided.

However, in a statement last night, education minister Cole Simons reminded the union “that it is important for the negotiations to remain within the scope of its purpose” and called on the BUT and the Public Service Negotiating Team to resume talks.

With exams complete and only a few days left before the end of term for most students, the action is unlikely to affect learning significantly.

In a separate development, the BUT this week released an “opposition paper” wish list for education in the absence of “any party showing a platform”.

The motion came in response to correspondence from the Ministry of Education that the union said failed to honour the ministry’s word during the negotiations in March.

The first issue of concern deals with scale posts — speciality subjects that teachers at all education levels are responsible for in addition to their normal teaching duties.

BUT president Shannon James told The Royal

Gazette: “They are supposed to give support to other teachers, but for the past two years the ministry has approached us with some amendments to the scale posts and we’ve had to say no because there was no proper discussion on it. We have had to roll it over for two years of a three-year contract.”

A second issue involves deputy principals at primary level being overloaded with teaching responsibilities.

“It’s hard for them to be a full-time teacher and to be a deputy principal at the same time,” Mr James said.

A letter from the Ministry of Education to BUT general secretary Mike Charles, with regards to the issue of deputy principals, said that while the MOED appreciated the “philosophical perspective that the organisational structure at primary school level should be reviewed, it is not their position to discuss staffing levels”.

The last issue revolves around the wording of the preamble of the collective bargaining agreement, which the union would like to include “the delivery of modern and relevant education”.

A number of schools lack adequate technological resources, including wi-fi access in some cases, according to the School Reorganisation Report published at the start of last year.

In reference to the wording, the ministry wrote “The MOED maintains its position that the inclusion of ‘modern and relevant’ in the preamble is unacceptable but is committed to prioritising for consideration, alternative language.”

The BUT will send an invitation to Mr Simons, along with Michael Dunkley, the Premier, to discuss the matter on Wednesday.

Mr James said: “We are addressing the concerns of our teachers. The main thing is when you negotiate, you come to the table and the basic premise is your word is your bond. The ministry has gone back on what it said. For the ministry to come and roll back the agreement is an insult to the process and a direct insult to us.”

The BUT’s “opposition paper”, titled the 2017 Education Agenda, called for the next government to adopt an agenda for delivering “first-class learning experiences”.

Health and safety was the first area of concern on the paper — mould, faulty facilities and infestation were major issues identified in the Score report.

The agenda calls for each school to be tested and certified before the start of each school year with assessments of air quality, vermin infestation, operational facilities, potable water and food service preparation areas.

The paper also asks for adequate staffing, expanded curriculum options and access to instructional resources; a review and modernisation of building infrastructure; an investment in technological infrastructure, resources and training, and a commitment to sustained professional development that “will be given the necessary time to be implemented effectively”.

The Progressive Labour Party sent out a press release yesterday accusing the OBA of breaking promises and “walking back” on its commitments to teachers.

Mr Simons said he hoped the union’s executive would reconsider what he termed “the invocation of industrial actions”.

The minister pointed out that under article one of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the union, the purpose of negotiations was to agree on regulating salaries, hours of work, and other conditions of employment.

He said teachers apply for scale posts, receive contracts and “are aware that the contracts are for a period of three years”.

Mr Simons said: “The ministry’s position is that these posts serve as an opportunity for professional development and growth for teachers. Thus, the BUT’s request to have the posts made permanent negates the opportunity for other teachers in the system to have the growth experience for upward mobility, if desired.”

He added the employment of people and changes in the organisational chart fell outside the mandate of union negotiations.

The minister further advised that the negotiations between the BUT and the PSNT had been suspended for a period.

He said: “The ministry is disappointed with this latest position as the PSNT stands poised to build consensus, and to try to bring negotiations to some conclusion before school resumes in September. We call on the BUT and the PSNT to resume negotiations, so that the best interest of our teachers and students are served.”

• To view Bermuda Union of Teachers’ Education Agenda, click on the PDF link under “Related Media”