Bermuda Union of Teachers has claimed it was prevented from giving "important witness testimony" at an arbitration hearing involving it and the Government.

Mike Charles, general secretary of the BUT, said in a statement that the Ministry of Education was "misleading" the public over the outcome of the hearing, which was held on March 18 due to a row over substitute teachers.

Teachers claim the Ministry breached its agreement with the union by axing a scheme which saw permanent substitute teachers assigned to schools and have threatened to begin strike action on April 17 if the matter is not resolved.

Last Thursday, the Ministry issued a statement saying an arbitration hearing had been held and the Arbitrator had ruled that the Ministry had not breached the agreement.

Mr. Charles said the BUT was "compelled" to respond to the comments made by the Ministry.

"The Ministry's comment: 'we feel it important that the people of Bermuda are made aware of the ruling so there is no ambiguity' is misleading," said Mr. Charles.

"There has been no legally valid binding arbitration ruling and the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing has acknowledged this fact."

Mr. Charles said the union had written to Labour Minister David Burch on March 26, enclosing a copy of a letter sent to the Arbitrator on March 24.

"The letter clearly showed that the arbitration hearing was conducted without hearing the important witness testimony the Bermuda Union of Teachers wished to adduce at the hearing," he said.

"This evidence was held in abeyance at the instructions of the Arbitrator. The Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing was briefed on this matter and fully understands the situation."

Mr. Charles said his union had submitted the names of fresh arbitrators to Sen. Burch in order that another hearing be held. "Another arbitration cannot be properly conducted by the same Arbitrator," he added.

Neither the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Labour responded to a request for comment yesterday.

Myron Piper, chairman and founder of the newly-formed Bermuda Educational Parents' Association, said last night that the two sides needed to collaborate in an open forum to resolve the dispute — and ensure that students didn't suffer.

"We are hearing one side at a time, which does not lend itself to a clear understanding of the events that are actually at play here," he said.

"If both the union and the Ministry involve the community by being transparent with information as opposed to operating in silos, it is possible that these events will unfold in a more equitable way.

"At the very least it would allow the stakeholders to stay focused on the issues and reduce grandstanding."

He added that the Island's youngsters were being let down and failed by the system. "Let's open discussions and subvert strike action," he said.