The Bermuda Union of Teachers is to meet with Government tomorrow to thrash out pay problems after Friday's strike effectively shut down four schools.

And there are fears further action could disrupt classes this week.

On Sunday night one teacher from Elliott Primary said she was on standby to strike on Monday. But no action was taken.

And United Bermuda Party Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said he had also heard more strikes were on the agenda.

He said: "I have heard that events will be better organised as opposed to wildcat and unorganised action and that further action was likely.

"Again my concern is for the children, this disrupts their education.

"It's very important they get back to the negotiations, iron out all the issues.

"I plead with teachers not to withdraw their labour and get on with educating our children."

Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Permanent Secretary Robert Horton played down strike fears.

He said: "We have a meeting scheduled between the Bermuda Union of Teachers and Labour Relations Officers on Wednesday."

He said until the Government went to binding arbitration strike action was still legal.

"We are simply at the talking stage. I don't expect the union to do so (strike). We don't anticipate there will be any interruption to the dialogue."

The Royal Gazette understands that the union wants a ten percent pay hike but Government is only offering three percent, although this has been denied by the union.

Mr. Smith welcomed the Government's move to refer the dispute to labour relations officers.

But he said it was time Government got away from blanket pay awards and moved towards performance-related pay in education.

"It's an over simplification of issues to argue three percent or ten percent or any other percent," said Mr. Smith.

"If we want to capture the hearts and minds of our children, parents and, indeed, taxpayers, we should be talking more about performance-based pay.

"There should be an agreement between the BUT and the Ministry of Education about what performance standards they are expecting from their teachers.

"Indeed the view of parents is that some teachers deserve more than ten percent and some teachers deserve to be fired.

"The across the board, one size fits all mentality is no longer suitable for our education system."

He said flat rate pay increases did nothing to improve the standard of education.

"We need a better accountability so those teachers who are doing exceptionally well and producing exceptional students should be paid more, rewarded more," said Mr. Smith.

"Those who are not doing well should be paid less. Inflexibility is harming education."

He said he had put the idea to the BUT who were against it.

"This system is used throughout education systems around the world now.

"It's rewarding teachers, producing exceptional results and removing teachers who are incapable and not producing results.

"It's certain to come to Bermuda.

"Some teachers, indeed the union itself and indeed the Minister may be brought kicking and screaming to that reality."