Public school principals started a work-to-rule yesterday after a dispute over their workloads.

The school heads walked out of their regular Thursday meeting, sources said.

One teacher told The Royal Gazette: “I know that the principals are not happy because their workloads are too demanding.

“There are deputy principals but they have teaching roles.”

The Ministry of Education confirmed Bermuda Public Service Union general secretary Ed Ball had given informal notice of industrial action by the principals.

A spokeswoman said: “The ministry is now waiting for formal correspondence with specific details as to the reason for the work-to-rule action.”

The BPSU declined to comment.

Schoolteachers worked to rule last year over several problems, including the workload of primary school deputy principals after they were given extra responsibilities.

• This story has been amended to reflect that Kalmar Richards, the Commissioner of Education, was not at the meeting as she was off work for family reasons.