Two CedarBridge Academy staff who believe they have been made ill by mould at the school have been fired for using up all their sick leave.

The women one an administration assistant and receptionist and the other a secretary were given letters of termination from the school's board of governors last week.

The Bermuda Public Service Union plans to appeal the sackings on behalf of the pair, both of whom have been signed off work by their doctors for an extended period due to illnesses believed to have been caused by the school environment.

BPSU general secretary Ed Ball said last night: "We did receive notification that two employees were being terminated for exhausting their sick leave. s far as we are concerned, the matter is not finished. Naturally, we will pursue it on their behalf."

He said he did not yet know the full details of the women's illnesses but added: "All their sick leave was certified."

CedarBridge Academy the Island's largest public school was closed due to mould infestation last November and a $4 million clean up was carried out. The Devonshire campus reopened in January after getting a clean bill of health but complaints of sickness from staff and students have persisted.

An independent inquiry into the crisis discovered that one student nearly died and at least 13 others suffered illnesses "very probably" caused by the mould. Some sick teachers have sought legal representation though no case has gone through the courts yet.

A source at the school told The Royal Gazette that the two female members of staff had been absent from work "off and on" for some time and that both blamed their ill health on the mould. "They (the board) is trying to make it sound like a dereliction of duty," said the source. "But that's totally unfair."

This newspaper understands that one of the sacked workers a 57-year-old grandmother has suffered chronic asthma and bronchial problems which doctors suspect was caused by her working environment. The other woman, aged 50, is understood to be waiting for test results to confirm the reasons for her various medical problems.

The letters of termination apparently came as a shock to the two workers, both of whom are believed to have asked to return to work in unaffected rooms at the school or be transferred elsewhere.

Mr. Ball said Education Minister Randy Horton had promised publicly to be understanding of staff concerns about health. The BPSU official said such matters needed to be handled with sensitivity and a recognition of all the circumstances. George Scott, chairman of CedarBridge board of governors, said the women's sick benefits had expired and that the school had gone "above and beyond" the call of duty in keeping the pair employed despite long periods of absence.

He questioned whether there was any proof that their illnesses were due to mould, adding: "If the union has to bring a grievance, we'll welcome it. They have a process that they can use and we'll see where it ends up."

Mr. Scott, who is also a Government MP and chief organiser of Bermuda Industrial Union, said: "I don't think we are unjust employers; far from it. Their benefits have run out."