An arbitration hearing between teachers and the Ministry of Education over pay will take place next week.

The meeting was due to be held at the Department of Labour yesterday but was delayed by mutual consent, according to Mike Charles, general secretary of Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT).

He said that teachers were working as normal in the meantime and that no further industrial action was expected. Last week, exams were cancelled and students at two of the Island's public schools were sent home after a large number of teachers called in sick. Others went on a work-to-rule in protest at a four percent pay rise offer.

Mr. Charles said: "Right now we are in dispute about the salaries. The arbitration will decide on salaries for the next contract agreement.

"As a trade unionist you never like to put your decisions in the hands of a third party but when it comes down to an impasse and nothing can be done you are forced to do this. We would prefer to sit around a table and talk. That wasn't working."

Mr. Charles added: "Teachers are back to normal doing what they like to do: teach. School is winding down."

Teachers claim that Government reneged on a 4.5 percent pay rise offer but Education Minister Randy Horton says that was never approved by the Finance Ministry and should not have been offered by Education Ministry officers.

Mr. Horton said yesterday that the arbitration would happen next week and that he was not worried about more industrial action. "All that needs to be said will be said in arbitration," he said.